Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
魍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
魍wǎngdemon, mountain spiritx, 17 strokes, radical 鬼
魍wǎngelfunknown, 17 strokes, radical 鬼
魍wǎngspriteunknown, 17 strokes, radical 鬼
wǎng(wang3) T3
  1. 1demon, mountain spirit
  2. 2elf
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

魍wǎng(wang3)

The character 魍 (wǎng) refers to supernatural beings such as demons or spirits, often associated with the mountains or wilderness. It is used in contexts relating to folklore, mythology, and the supernatural, highlighting the mysterious and sometimes malevolent aspects of these entities.

Strokes17Radical鬼
Cultural Note

In Chinese folklore, 魍 often refers to spirits that inhabit remote natural areas, reflecting the cultural belief in the presence of supernatural forces in nature. These spirits are sometimes seen as protectors of the mountains and forests.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'wong' (wǎng) spirit lurking in the mountains, surrounded by mist. The radical 魊 (fish) suggests something ethereal and elusive, while the character itself evokes a sense of fear or intrigue, reminiscent of ghost stories told around a campfire.

Meanings of 魍

wǎng(wang3)
1demon, mountain spirit
2elf
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 魍

魍Simplified
17Strokes
鬼Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 魍

JasonAmy

Podcast: 魍

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 魍

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in literary or mythological contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; it is often used in conjunction with terms for 'ghost' (鬼) or 'spirit' (灵).

HSK Study Tips

While 魍 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other words related to mythology and folklore. Students at this level should focus on understanding its usage within stories and cultural discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 魍 with 鬼 (guǐ), leading to incorrect interpretations in contexts discussing spirits. Remember that 魍 is specific to mountain spirits and demons, while 鬼 refers broadly to ghosts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 魍

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 魍 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 魍

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

demon

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 魍

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

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

Want the full history of 魍? 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 魍?

Decomposition of 魍

IDS Structure⿺鬼罔
魍Full Character
=
鬼gui3
enclosing
罔wang3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 魍?

How to say demon, mountain spirit in Chinese

“demon, mountain spirit” in Chinese is魍wǎng

The character 魍 (wǎng) refers to supernatural beings such as demons or spirits, often associated with the mountains or wilderness. It is used in contexts relating to folklore, mythology, and the supernatural, highlighting the mysterious and sometimes malevolent aspects of these entities.

When to use 魍

This character is typically used in literary or mythological contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; it is often used in conjunction with terms for 'ghost' (鬼) or 'spirit' (灵).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 魍 with 鬼 (guǐ), leading to incorrect interpretations in contexts discussing spirits. Remember that 魍 is specific to mountain spirits and demons, while 鬼 refers broadly to ghosts.

Write 魍

魍

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 魍

Words Containing This Character3
魍wǎngelf
魍魉sprites and goblins魍魎
魑魅魍魉demons and monsters (idiom)魑魅魍魎
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 魍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 魍

While 魍 refers specifically to mountain spirits or demons, 鬼 generally denotes ghosts or spirits of the dead. 魍 is more related to nature, whereas 鬼 has a broader, more general meaning.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 魍?

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.