Chinese Character: 鬼
1. Character Basics
Radical: 鬼/guǐ (ghost, spirit)
Stroke Count: 9 strokes
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Guǐ (Third tone)
3. Meaning
Basic Meaning: Ghost; spirit; devil; monster
Extended Meaning: Something mysterious or hard to explain; someone who is sly or tricky
Additional Meaning: Used in some idioms and expressions to describe extreme situations or qualities
4. Common Words
- 鬼话 (guǐ huà) - Nonsense; lies
别再说这种鬼话了！(Bié zài shuō zhè zhǒng guǐ huà le!)
Don't talk such nonsense anymore!
- 魔鬼 (mó guǐ) - Devil; demon
他的行为像魔鬼一样。(Tā de xíng wéi xiàng mó guǐ yí yàng.)
His behavior is like a devil's.
- 鬼怪 (guǐ guài) - Ghosts and monsters; supernatural beings
这个故事里有很多鬼怪。(Zhè ge gù shì lǐ yǒu hěn duō guǐ guài.)
There are many ghosts and monsters in this story.
- 鬼混 (guǐ hùn) - To fool around; to idle away
他整天就知道鬼混。(Tā zhěng tiān jiù zhī dào guǐ hùn.)
He just fools around all day long.
- 鬼脸 (guǐ liǎn) - Funny face; grimace
他对着镜子做鬼脸。(Tā duì zhe jìng zi zuò guǐ liǎn.)
He makes funny faces in the mirror.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun
Usage Patterns:
- As a standalone noun: 鬼 (ghost)
- In compound words: 魔鬼 (devil), 鬼怪 (ghosts and monsters)
- In idioms: 鬼鬼祟祟 (sneaky), 鬼使神差 (mysteriously brought about)
Collocations:
- 鬼故事 (ghost story)
- 鬼主意 (wicked idea)
- 鬼地方 (spooky place)
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of "鬼" (ghost) has a long history and rich connotations. Unlike the Western concept of ghosts, Chinese ghosts are often seen as spirits of the deceased that may linger in the human world due to unresolved issues or attachments.
Traditional Chinese beliefs hold that ghosts can be both benevolent and malevolent. During the Ghost Festival (中元节/zhōng yuán jié), which falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, people honor their ancestors and perform rituals to appease wandering spirits.
Ghosts are also a common theme in Chinese literature, opera, and folklore, often used to convey moral lessons or reflect social issues. In modern times, ghost stories remain popular in Chinese movies and television shows.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
我不相信世界上有鬼。(Wǒ bù xiāng xìn shì jiè shàng yǒu guǐ.)
I don't believe there are ghosts in the world.
Example 2:
这部电影讲的是一个鬼故事。(Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng de shì yí ge guǐ gù shì.)
This movie is about a ghost story.
Example 3:
他做了个鬼脸，把我吓了一跳。(Tā zuò le ge guǐ liǎn, bǎ wǒ xià le yì tiào.)
He made a funny face and startled me.)
8. Memory Tips
Tip 1: Break down the character. The character 鬼 (guǐ) resembles a ghostly figure with a large head and body, which can help you remember its meaning.
Tip 2: Associate it with common words. Learn words like 鬼话 (nonsense), 魔鬼 (devil), and 鬼怪 (ghosts and monsters) to reinforce your memory of the character.
Tip 3: Use mnemonics. Imagine a ghost with a big head (the top part of the character) and a flowing body (the bottom part).
Tip 4: Practice writing the character. Pay attention to the stroke order to improve your recall.
Tip 5: Watch Chinese movies or read stories that feature ghosts to become more familiar with how the character is used in context.