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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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. 鬼 represents the meaning and 麻 represents the sound.
1The meaning half鬼 carries the sense.
2The sound half麻 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaydemon
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 魔? 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 魔?
Decomposition of 魔
IDS Structure⿸麻鬼
魔Full Character
=
麻ma2
enclosing
鬼gui3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
Complete the Sentence
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.
