魂 (hún) - Soul, spirit, the non-physical essence of a person & also refers to mood or state of mind.

魂Tone 2

hún ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

慧佳

魂 · hún

Soul, spirit, the non-physical essence of a person or being;

also refers to mood or state of mind.

Soul, spirit, the non-physical essence of a personalso refers to mood or state of mind.

Usage highlights

SoulSpiritNational spiritSoulmateLose one's soulGhosts and spirits

Synonyms

  • 灵— spirit, soul
  • 神— spirit, god, deity
  • 魄— earthly soul, physical spirit

Antonyms

  • 体— body, physical form
  • 身— body, person
  • 肉— flesh, meat

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The soul is believed to be immortal (灵魂).
  • He was captivated by the spirit of the place (神魂颠倒).
  • The national spirit is strong (国魂).
  • She sings with great soul and emotion (灵魂歌手).

Collocations

  • Soul(灵魂)
  • Spirit(魂魄)
  • Soul-stirring(惊魂)
  • National spirit(国魂)
  • Soulmate(灵魂伴侣)
  • Lose one's soul(失魂落魄)

Idioms

  • Scared out of one's wits(魂飞魄散)
  • Soul-stirring(惊心动魄)
  • Captivated and enchanted(神魂颠倒)
  • Lose one's soul, look distraught(失魂落魄)
  • The soul returns to heaven(魂归西天)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese belief, a person has multiple souls or spiritual components (魂 and 魄).
  • 魂 (hún) is considered the more ethereal, conscious soul that can leave the body, while 魄 (pò) is the more physical, earthly soul.
  • The concept is central to ancestor worship and beliefs about the afterlife.

FAQ