妖 (yāo) - Demon, monster & bewitching, seductive

妖Tone 1

yāo ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 女

嬿一

妖 · yāo

Demon, monster;

bewitching, seductive;

supernatural, uncanny;

ominous.

Demon, monsterbewitching, seductivesupernatural, uncanny

Usage highlights

Monster/DemonFox Spirit/DemonSorcery/Demonic ArtsSeductive/BewitchingDemonic Words/SuperstitionEvil Spirit

Synonyms

  • 怪— strange, monster
  • 魔— devil, demon
  • 精— spirit, essence (often in 妖精)

Antonyms

  • 仙— celestial being, immortal
  • 神— god, deity
  • 正— upright, orthodox

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The fox spirit is a classic demon (妖精) in Chinese folklore.
  • She has a bewitching charm (妖媚).
  • The sorcerer practiced demonic arts (妖术).
  • That's just superstitious nonsense (妖言).

Collocations

  • Monster/Demon(妖怪)
  • Fox Spirit/Demon(妖狐)
  • Sorcery/Demonic Arts(妖术)
  • Seductive/Bewitching(妖媚)
  • Demonic Words/Superstition(妖言)
  • Monster/Demon(妖魔)

Idioms

  • Monsters and demons running wild(妖魔鬼怪)
  • Acting seductively and bewitchingly(妖里妖气)
  • Evil winds and wicked influences(妖风邪气)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese mythology and folklore, '妖' (yāo) refers to spirits, monsters, or demons, often animals or objects that have gained supernatural powers through long life or cultivation.
  • Traditionally associated with negative, disruptive forces that defy the natural order, contrasting with celestial beings (仙) or benevolent spirits (神).
  • Commonly appears in classical literature like 'Journey to the West' and 'Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio'.

FAQ