Definition
闹鬼 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to be haunted' — used for places where ghosts or spirits are said to appear. It can also mean 'to play tricks on someone' or 'to use underhand means', though this is less common. When you need to add a time, frequency, or object, the verb 闹 and the noun 鬼 split: e.g. 闹过鬼 ('has been haunted'), 闹什么鬼 ('what ghost? — what trickery?'). The person or place being haunted is introduced with 在 or 有, not placed directly after 闹鬼.
v.o.
(of a place) to be haunted(of a person) to play tricks on someoneto use underhand means
Examples
- 闹鬼,。Tīngshuō nà dòng lǎo fángzi nào guǐ, wǎnshàng méi rén gǎn qù.I heard that old house is haunted — no one dares go there at night.
- ,。Zhè dòng lóu yǐqián nào guo guǐ, hòulái qǐng rén zuò le fǎshì.This building was haunted before; later they hired someone to perform a ritual.
- ,。Bié gēn wǒ nào guǐ, wǒ zhīdào nǐ zài sāhuǎng.Don't play tricks on me — I know you're lying.
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