Meaning
妖怪 refers to supernatural creatures, monsters, or demons in Chinese folklore and mythology. These beings are typically malevolent or mischievous spirits that possess magical powers and can take various forms, often appearing in classical Chinese literature and popular culture.
Usage
Commonly used in fairy tales, fantasy stories, and folklore contexts. Can be used literally to refer to mythological creatures or figuratively to describe someone who is strange or behaves oddly. The term appears frequently in classical literature like Journey to the West (西游记) and remains popular in modern fantasy media.
Examples
- 01孙悟空在取经路上打败了很多妖怪。.Sun Wukong defeated many monsters on the journey to obtain the scriptures.
- 02这个故事讲的是一个妖怪变成美女诱惑人的传说。.This story tells the legend of a demon transforming into a beautiful woman to seduce people.
Characters
Measure words
- 只一只妖怪
- 个一个妖怪
Common collocations
- 打妖怪to fight monsters
- 妖怪作祟monsters causing trouble
- 除妖怪to eliminate demons
Antonyms
Origin
The character 妖 originally depicted a beautiful woman and came to mean 'bewitching' or 'demonic,' while 怪 combines heart (心) and strange/peculiar elements. Together they form a compound meaning supernatural creatures that are both strange and potentially harmful.