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March 24, 2026
魔mó(mo2)
The character 魔 (mó) refers to concepts associated with evil spirits, demons, and magic. It is commonly used in contexts involving supernatural elements, such as stories, folklore, and discussions about the occult. The nuance of the term often conveys a sense of malevolence or dark magic.
Strokes20Radical鬼Frequency#1879DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 魔 is often associated with traditional beliefs about spirits and the supernatural, particularly in folklore and festivals such as the Hungry Ghost Festival. The character reflects deep-rooted fears and narratives surrounding evil spirits.
Memory Tip
Imagine a magician conjuring a devilish figure from a cauldron; the character 魔 resembles a person with a mischievous grin (the magic) and a tail (the devil). The 'mó' sound can remind you of 'more magic' – think of the dark magic you might find in a thrilling novel.
Meanings of 魔
mó(mo2)
1devil
2magic
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 魔 means.
About 魔
魔Simplified
20Strokes
鬼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1879Frequency Rank
Podcast: 魔
Podcast: 魔
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AI Study Notes for 魔
Quick Contrast
妖 (yāo) - refers to a supernatural being or spirit, often with a more playful or mischievous connotation compared to 魔, which has a stronger association with malevolence.
Usage Notes
魔 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in literature and popular media. Be careful not to confuse it with 亡 (wáng), which means 'to perish'—the two can sound similar but have significantly different meanings. Common collocations include 魔法 (mófǎ, magic) and 魔鬼 (móguǐ, devil).
HSK Study Tips
While 魔 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects with words related to fantasy and the supernatural that might appear in higher levels. Focus on understanding its usage in literature and media to enrich vocabulary related to themes of magic.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 魔 with 妈 (mā, mother) due to their similar pronunciation. For example, saying '魔' when you mean '妈' can lead to misunderstandings. Always remember that 魔 relates to spirits and magic, while 妈 refers to family.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 魔
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How Well Do You Know 魔?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 魔 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
魔 = 鬼 + 麻. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 魔
IDS Structure⿸麻鬼
魔Full Character
=
麻ma2
enclosing
鬼gui3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 魔?
How to say devil in Chinese
“devil” in Chinese is魔mó
The character 魔 (mó) refers to concepts associated with evil spirits, demons, and magic. It is commonly used in contexts involving supernatural elements, such as stories, folklore, and discussions about the occult. The nuance of the term often conveys a sense of malevolence or dark magic.
When to use 魔
魔 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in literature and popular media. Be careful not to confuse it with 亡 (wáng), which means 'to perish'—the two can sound similar but have significantly different meanings. Common collocations include 魔法 (mófǎ, magic) and 魔鬼 (móguǐ, devil).
魔 or something close to it
妖 (yāo) - refers to a supernatural being or spirit, often with a more playful or mischievous connotation compared to 魔, which has a stronger association with malevolence.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 魔 with 妈 (mā, mother) due to their similar pronunciation. For example, saying '魔' when you mean '妈' can lead to misunderstandings. Always remember that 魔 relates to spirits and magic, while 妈 refers to family.
Write 魔
魔
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Practice writing 魔 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 魔
魔 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 3 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这位斗士相信自己仍然可以恢复从前的一些____力。
The fighter believes he can still regain some of his old magic.
