Meanings of 鬼
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About 鬼
Podcast: 鬼
Podcast: 鬼
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AI Study Notes for 鬼
鬼 (guǐ, ghost) vs 精 (jīng, spirit) — use 鬼 for malevolent or ghostly entities, while 精 refers to a more benign or ethereal spirit.
When using 鬼, be mindful of the context; it can have both negative and neutral connotations. Common collocations include 鬼怪 (guǐguài - monster) and 鬼魂 (guǐhún - ghost spirit). Avoid using it in overly formal settings, as it may come off as informal or colloquial.
Although 鬼 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects with themes of supernatural and emotional vocabulary that are common in storytelling. Students should focus on recognizing and using it in idiomatic expressions and cultural references.
Learners often confuse the tone and pronounce 鬼 as 'gui' instead of 'guǐ'. Additionally, some may use it inappropriately in formal contexts, where a more neutral term would be better.
Pronunciation of 鬼
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Etymology of 鬼
Pictograph of a human-like being with an unnatural head and a tail.
A ghost with a scary face
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 鬼
Pictograph of a human-like being with an unnatural head and a tail.
- 1The giveawayA ghost with a scary face
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 鬼? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 鬼?
Decomposition of 鬼
Identify the Components
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How to say ghost in Chinese
“ghost” in Chinese is鬼
The character 鬼 (guǐ) primarily means 'ghost' or 'demon' in Mandarin. It can also imply someone who is sly or crafty, often used to describe a person with cunning traits. In a cultural context, ghosts are significant in Chinese traditions, often associated with ancestral worship and festivals like Qingming.
When to use 鬼
When using 鬼, be mindful of the context; it can have both negative and neutral connotations. Common collocations include 鬼怪 (guǐguài - monster) and 鬼魂 (guǐhún - ghost spirit). Avoid using it in overly formal settings, as it may come off as informal or colloquial.
鬼 or something close to it
鬼 (guǐ, ghost) vs 精 (jīng, spirit) — use 鬼 for malevolent or ghostly entities, while 精 refers to a more benign or ethereal spirit.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse the tone and pronounce 鬼 as 'gui' instead of 'guǐ'. Additionally, some may use it inappropriately in formal contexts, where a more neutral term would be better.
Write 鬼
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Practice writing 鬼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 鬼
鬼 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
惠特比镇因为布拉姆·斯托克著名的吸血____故事而名传后世。
The town of whitby was immortalised in Bram Stoker's famous Dracula story.
Example Sentences for 鬼 (10)
Word Family of 鬼
Compound Meaning
What does 魔 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鬼
Common phrases with 鬼 (guǐ) include '鬼怪' (guǐguài), meaning 'ghosts and monsters,' and '鬼故事' (guǐ gùshì), which means 'ghost stories.' These phrases often appear in cultural contexts, especially around festivals like Halloween or the Ghost Festival.
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