妖 yāo strange
strange; weird; supernatural; bewitching; seductive
How to remember 妖: 女 woman + 夭 young = strange. On Halloween a woman with a young face and grey hair knocks at the door, and the kids find her strange.
Component breakdown
妖 = 女 woman + 夭 young
- 女 woman
- 夭 young
On Halloween a woman with a young face and grey hair knocks at the door, and the kids find her strange.
How it is used
- A demon/goblin, and by extension bewitching/seductive: 妖怪 (yāoguài) monster, 妖精 (yāojing) a demon or a vixen, 妖艳 (yāoyàn) gaudily alluring.
- 妖 often flags something unnaturally, dangerously charming - not wholesome beauty.
- 装神弄鬼、妖言惑众 (yāoyán-huòzhòng) = to mislead people with wild rumors.
Words with 妖
Example sentences
- 她打扮得很妖艳。 Tā dǎban de hěn yāoyàn.She's dolled up gorgeously but coquettishly.