阎王 Yánwang Yama, the King of Hell
(Buddhism) Yama, the King of Hell; (figuratively) cruel and tyrannical person
How to remember 阎王: 阎 village gate + 王 king = Yama, the King of Hell.
Characters
How it is used
- Yama, the king of the underworld in Chinese Buddhist folklore - 阎王爷 (Yánwang yé) the King of Hell.
- Figuratively a cruel, fearsome authority figure - 活阎王 (a living tyrant). Sayings: 阎王好见，小鬼难缠 (the boss is easy, his flunkies are the problem).
- Read Yán wang (王 toneless here); largely a cultural/idiomatic term, not everyday vocabulary.