HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 鬼, rank #5704, Hard
魂
hún
immortal soul, i.e. that can be detached from the body
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 鬼, rank #5704, Hard
hún(hun2) T2
1old variant of 魂[hún]
2soul, spirit
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
魂(䰟)hún(hun2)
The character 魂 (hún) refers to the soul or spirit, particularly in contexts related to the essence of a person that may exist independently from the body. It is often used in discussions about life after death, spirituality, and ancient beliefs regarding the immortality of the soul.
Strokes13Radical鬼Frequency#5704DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 魂 plays a significant role in beliefs about ancestor worship and the afterlife, where the souls of ancestors are honored and remembered during festivals like Qingming.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person’s spirit (魂) floating above their body, like a ghost. The radical 魚 (yú), meaning fish, is at the bottom, suggesting the idea of something that can swim away from the physical realm, connecting to the notion of the soul being able to separate from the body.
Meanings of 魂
hún(hun2)
1soul, spirit
2immortal soul, i.e. that can be detached from the body
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 魂
魂Simplified
䰟Traditional
13Strokes
鬼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#5704Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 魂
Podcast: 魂
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 魂
Quick Contrast
灵 (líng) refers to spirit or soul in a more ethereal or divine context, while 魂 (hún) emphasizes the essence of a person's spirit.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person’s spirit (魂) floating above their body, like a ghost. The radical 魚 (yú), meaning fish, is at the bottom, suggesting the idea of something that can swim away from the physical realm, connecting to the notion of the soul being able to separate from the body.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 魂 with 魄 (pò), which refers to the corporeal spirit or physical soul. 魂 is more abstract and spiritual. It's typically used in literary or philosophical contexts rather than everyday conversations.
HSK Study Tips
While 魂 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, its usage connects with words like 心 (xīn, heart) and 精神 (jīngshén, spirit). Focus on understanding the context of spiritual discussions to grasp its nuanced meanings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 魂 plays a significant role in beliefs about ancestor worship and the afterlife, where the souls of ancestors are honored and remembered during festivals like Qingming.
Common Mistakes
Learners might incorrectly use 魂 in everyday situations where simpler terms like 心 (xīn) for 'heart' or 精神 (jīngshén) for 'spirit' would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我很有魂' (Wǒ hěn yǒu hún) to mean 'I am very spirited' is incorrect; instead, use '我精神很好' (Wǒ jīngshén hěn hǎo).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 魂
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 魂 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 魂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 魂
魂 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 4 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他无视传统基督教的肉体与灵____的二元论。
He ignores the traditional Christian dualism between body and soul.
Example Sentences for 魂 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他无视传统基督教的肉体与灵魂的二元论。
tā wú shì chuán tǒng jī dū jiào de ròu tǐ yǔ líng hún de èr yuán lùn。
He ignores the traditional Christian dualism between body and soul.
2
那个管弦乐团现在更有纪律性了，却丧失了灵魂。
nà gè guǎn xián lè tuán xiàn zài gēng yǒu jì lǜ xìng le， ， què sāng shī le líng。
The orchestra has more discipline now, but at the expense of spirit.
3
希腊人相信灵魂不灭。
xī là rén xiāng xìn líng hún bù miè。
The Greeks accepted belief in the immortality of the soul.
4
露天游乐场的飞车就是想把人吓丢了魂儿。
lòu tiān yóu lè cháng de fēi chē jiù shì xiǎng bǎ rén xià diū le hún ér。
Fairground rides are intended to frighten the life out of you.
5
她去为亡夫的灵魂祈祷。
tā qù wéi wáng fū de líng hún qí dǎo。
She went to pray for the soul of her late husband.
6
他被她迷得神魂颠倒，连孩子都抛到了九霄云外。
tā bèi tā mí dé shén hún diān dǎo， ， lián hái zǐ dū pāo dào le jiǔ xiāo yún。
He became so besotted with her that even his children were forgotten.
He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw two rats.
Cultural Notes for 魂
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 魂 plays a significant role in beliefs about ancestor worship and the afterlife, where the souls of ancestors are honored and remembered during festivals like Qingming.
Word Family of 魂
Words Containing This Character20
灵魂línghúnsoul靈魂
魂húnsoul
鬼魂ghost
销魂ecstasy銷魂
惊魂frightened驚魂
魂魄soul
神魂mind
冤魂ghost of one who died unjustly
魂飞魄散fig. to be frightened stiff魂飛魄散
阴魂ghost陰魂
神魂颠倒fascinated神魂顛倒
幽魂ghost
亡魂departed spirit
还魂to return from the grave還魂
失魂落魄dazed
魂灵soul魂靈
魂牵梦萦to miss魂牽夢縈
阴魂不散fig. the influence still lingers on陰魂不散
魂牵梦绕to be captivated魂牽夢繞
魂不守舍to be preoccupied (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 灵魂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 魂
Yes, 魂 (hún) is still used in modern Chinese, though it may appear less frequently than its variants. It is often found in literary or philosophical contexts, reflecting on themes of spirituality and the afterlife.
魂 (hún) and 灵 (líng) both relate to the spirit or soul, but they have different connotations. 魂 often refers to the immortal aspect of the soul, while 灵 can refer to spirit or energy, and is often used in contexts related to the divine or supernatural.
To use 魂 (hún) in a sentence, you can say something like '他的魂出窍了' (tā de hún chū qiào le), which translates to 'His soul has left his body.' This demonstrates the concept of the soul in a spiritual or metaphysical context.
魂 (hún) refers to the concept of the soul or spirit in Chinese culture. It is often associated with the idea of an immortal soul that can exist independently of the body. The character has historical significance and is considered an old variant of the same character used today.
魂 refers to the spiritual, ethereal aspect of a being, while 魄 represents the physical or corporeal aspect.
Generally, 魂 is more commonly found in literary or philosophical contexts, rather than in casual conversation.
Yes, in some contexts, 魂 can metaphorically refer to the essence or spirit of a person's character.
