魔术 (mó shù) — magic; magic trick | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

魔术 is the concrete, performable kind of magic — tricks on stage or at a party. 魔法 is the fantasy/movie kind of sorcery; 魔力 is the abstract 'magical power' behind it.

noun

magicmagic trick

Measure word · 个

Examples

魔术，。
Tā xué le yí gè xīn mó shù, zhǔn bèi zài wǎn huì shàng biǎo yǎn.
He learned a new magic trick and plans to perform it at the party.
魔术。
Zhè ge mó shù xū yào hěn duō dào jù hé liàn xí.
This magic trick requires a lot of props and practice.
魔术。
Hái zi men dōu xǐ huan kàn mó shù biǎo yǎn.
Children all enjoy watching magic shows.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

魔 (magic) and 术 (art) combine to mean magic or a magic trick.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

麻鬼魔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

鬼鬼guǐdemon

Sound part声符shēngfú

麻

麻má魔mó

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

魔 pairs 鬼, meaning demon, with 麻, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 術; 术 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

行行xíngstreet, path

Sound part声符shēngfú

朮

朮zhú術shù

Same sound today

The traditional form 術 has 行 (street, path) beside 朮, which gives the sound; the simplified 术 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

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