魔窟 (mó kū) — den of monsters

Definition

A literary term for a 'den of monsters or evil' — extends beyond literal monsters to any hideout of criminals or wickedness. More vivid and dramatic than a plain noun like 窝.

noun
den of monsters

Examples

  • 魔窟，。
    Chuán shuō zhè zuò shān lǐ yǒu yí gè mó kū, jìn qù de rén dōu méi yǒu chū lái.
    Legend has it that there is a den of monsters in this mountain, and those who go in never come out.
  • 魔窟，。
    Nà ge dì fāng jiǎn zhí jiù shì zuì è de mó kū, ràng rén bù hán ér lì.
    That place is simply a den of evil, sending chills down one's spine.
  • 魔窟。
    Jǐng fāng chéng gōng cuī huǐ le yí gè kǒng bù fèn zǐ de mó kū.
    The police successfully destroyed a den of terrorists.

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módemon
窟kūden

魔 names a demon, and 窟 is its den or cave.

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.

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.

Open 魔 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
穴穴xuéhole; cave
Sound part声符shēngfú
屈
屈qū窟
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

窟 is built from 穴 (hole; cave) plus 屈, which supplies the sound. The shape therefore marks a cave-like hole pronounced like 屈.

Open 窟 →

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