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傀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
傀guīgreat, gigantic; puppetn, 11 strokes, radical 亻
傀guīgrandunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
傀guīstrangeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
傀guīexoticunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
傀kuǐgreat, gigantic; puppetn, 11 strokes, radical 亻
傀kuǐgrandunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
傀kuǐstrangeunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
傀kuǐexoticunknown, 11 strokes, radical 亻
guī(gui1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1great, gigantic; puppet
  2. 2grand
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

傀guī(gui1)

The character '傀' (guī) primarily means 'puppet' and can also imply something that is strange or exotic. It is often used in contexts related to performance and art, particularly in traditional Chinese puppet shows. The nuance of this character can suggest a sense of being controlled or manipulated, akin to how a puppet is operated by a puppeteer.

Strokes11Radical亻
Cultural Note

'傀' is closely associated with traditional Chinese puppetry, which has deep historical roots. Puppet shows are an important part of Chinese cultural heritage, often used to convey stories and moral lessons.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant puppet ('傀') being controlled by strings, emphasizing its size and the strange, exotic nature of the performance. The character's components suggest a person (亻) and a concept (鬼), which you can visualize as a person controlling a ghostly puppet.

Meanings of 傀

guī(gui1)
primary
1great, gigantic; puppet
2grand
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 傀

傀Simplified
11Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 傀

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Podcast: 傀

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 傀

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in modern conversation and may appear more in literary or artistic contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters. It can also be part of phrases describing unusual things.

HSK Study Tips

Although '傀' is not included in the HSK, it can be connected to other HSK words related to performance and art, such as '戏' (xì, drama). Focus on understanding its usage in cultural contexts, especially performances.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use '傀' in everyday contexts as a synonym for 'big' or 'great,' which is incorrect. It's important to use it specifically in artistic or cultural discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 傀

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Etymology of 傀

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 鬼 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

person

Semantic (meaning)亻
+
Phonetic (sound)鬼
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 傀

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 鬼 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half亻 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half鬼 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayperson
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 傀? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 傀?

Decomposition of 傀

IDS Structure⿰亻鬼
傀Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
鬼gui3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 傀?

How to say great, gigantic; puppet in Chinese

“great, gigantic; puppet” in Chinese is傀guī

The character '傀' (guī) primarily means 'puppet' and can also imply something that is strange or exotic. It is often used in contexts related to performance and art, particularly in traditional Chinese puppet shows. The nuance of this character can suggest a sense of being controlled or manipulated, akin to how a puppet is operated by a puppeteer.

When to use 傀

This character is not commonly used in modern conversation and may appear more in literary or artistic contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words or characters. It can also be part of phrases describing unusual things.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use '傀' in everyday contexts as a synonym for 'big' or 'great,' which is incorrect. It's important to use it specifically in artistic or cultural discussions.

Write 傀

傀

Practice writing 傀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 傀

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, puppetry is often associated with children's entertainment, while in China, it carries a rich tradition that includes folklore and historical narratives, making it a more serious art form.

Word Family of 傀

Words Containing This Character3
傀儡puppet
傀guīgrand
傀儡戏puppet show傀儡戲
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 傀儡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 傀

The character has historical roots connected to puppetry and reflects cultural practices involving performance.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 傀?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.