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魔鬼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
魔鬼móguǐdevilHSK 7, n, 29 strokes, rank #1938, Very Hard
móguǐ(mo2gui3)mo gui T2
  1. 1devil
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March 24, 2026

魔鬼móguǐ(mo2gui3)

魔鬼 (móguǐ) refers to a devil or demon, often used to describe a malevolent supernatural being. In a broader context, it can also metaphorically represent evil or wickedness in people or situations, commonly used in both literature and everyday speech.

Strokes29Frequency#1938DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 魔鬼 is often linked with folklore, where stories of demons serve as moral lessons about the consequences of evil deeds. The portrayal of devils in literature can also reflect societal fears and values.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'mo' (mole) that digs deep into the ground to find the 'gui' (ghost), representing the hidden devilish aspects. The 'mo' in 魔 (devil) and the 'gui' in 鬼 (ghost) both help you remember that these characters are linked to dark and sinister concepts.

Meanings of 魔鬼

móguǐ(mo2gui3)
1devil
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 魔鬼

魔鬼Simplified
29Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1938Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 魔鬼

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Podcast: 魔鬼

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AI Study Notes for 魔鬼

Quick Contrast

恶魔 (èmó) — use 魔鬼 (móguǐ) for a more colloquial or narrative context, while 恶魔 (èmó) often implies a more formal or literary reference to evil beings.

Usage Notes

魔鬼 is often used in a dramatic or literary context rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; the second character 鬼 (gui) should be pronounced with a falling tone to avoid confusion with other meanings. Common collocations include 魔鬼的行为 (devilish behavior) and 魔鬼的笑容 (devil's smile).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 魔鬼 connects with themes of morality and ethics found in other advanced vocabulary. Students should focus on using it in context, especially in discussions regarding literature or philosophy, where the concept of good versus evil is prevalent.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 魔鬼 with 幽灵 (yōulíng), which means 'ghost.' A common mistake is saying '我看到魔鬼在那儿' (I saw the devil over there) when referring to a benign spirit; the correct term would be 幽灵.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 魔鬼

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Component Characters

魔módevil
20 strokes鬼
View full entry
鬼guǐghost
HSK 79 strokes鬼
View full entry

How to say devil in Chinese

“devil” in Chinese is魔鬼móguǐ

魔鬼 (móguǐ) refers to a devil or demon, often used to describe a malevolent supernatural being. In a broader context, it can also metaphorically represent evil or wickedness in people or situations, commonly used in both literature and everyday speech.

When to use 魔鬼

魔鬼 is often used in a dramatic or literary context rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; the second character 鬼 (gui) should be pronounced with a falling tone to avoid confusion with other meanings. Common collocations include 魔鬼的行为 (devilish behavior) and 魔鬼的笑容 (devil's smile).

魔鬼 or something close to it

恶魔 (èmó) — use 魔鬼 (móguǐ) for a more colloquial or narrative context, while 恶魔 (èmó) often implies a more formal or literary reference to evil beings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 魔鬼 with 幽灵 (yōulíng), which means 'ghost.' A common mistake is saying '我看到魔鬼在那儿' (I saw the devil over there) when referring to a benign spirit; the correct term would be 幽灵.

Write 魔鬼

魔
鬼

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

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Grammar Patterns of 魔鬼

魔鬼 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

你是个耍阴谋诡计的小____,对不对?

You're a scheming little devil, aren't you?

Example Sentences for 魔鬼 (3)

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1
你是个耍阴谋诡计的小魔鬼,对不对?

nǐ shì gè shuǎ yīn móu guǐ jì de xiǎo mó guǐ, , duì bù?

You're a scheming little devil, aren't you?
2
我的鼓舞者, 像个真正的魔鬼, 教我去骗这个天真烂漫的小孩.

wǒ de gǔ wǔ zhě, , xiàng gè zhēn zhèng de mó, guǐ , jiào wǒ qù piàn zhè gè tiān zhēn làn màn de.

My prompter, like a true devil, set me upon this innocent creature.
3
魔鬼引诱所有人, 而懒人引诱魔鬼.

mó guǐ yǐn yòu suǒ yǒu rén, , ér lǎn rén yǐn yòu mó.

The devil tempts all, but the idle man tempts the devil.

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Cultural Notes for 魔鬼

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the concept of the devil often carries religious connotations, while in Chinese culture, it can also represent a broader sense of mischief and malevolence without necessarily implying a religious element.

Frequently Asked Questions about 魔鬼

You can say: '他是个魔鬼,做了很多坏事。' (He is a devil, having done many bad deeds.)

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