魔 mó demon
demon; evil spirit; magic; spell
How to remember 魔: 麻 hemp + 鬼 ghost = demon. In the old hemp field at night, the kids see a ghost and scream that it must be a demon.
Component breakdown
魔 = 麻 hemp + 鬼 ghost
- 麻 hemp
- 广 broad
- 林 a wood
- 木 tree
- 木 tree
- 鬼 ghost
In the old hemp field at night, the kids see a ghost and scream that it must be a demon.
How it is used
- Demon, but productively means 'magic' and 'obsessive/uncanny power': 魔术 (móshù) stage magic, 魔法 (mófǎ) sorcery, 魔力 (mólì) irresistible charm/allure - 这音乐有种魔力 (zhè yīnyuè yǒu zhǒng mólì) this music has a spell over you.
- Also the 'demon' of excess: 着魔 (zháomó) to be possessed/obsessed, 魔鬼 (móguǐ) devil, 魔鬼身材 (móguǐ shēncái) a 'killer' figure.
- Note 魔术 (illusion tricks) vs 魔法 (fantasy/fictional sorcery) - different worlds.