魘 (yǎn) - Nightmare — a frightening or oppressive dream & to have a nightmare.

魘Tone 3

yǎn ｜ 23 strokes ｜ radical:

妍嬿

魘 · yǎn

Nightmare — a frightening or oppressive dream;

to have a nightmare.

Nightmare — a frightening or oppressive dreamto have a nightmare.

Usage highlights

Have a nightmareWaking nightmareNightmare experienceRecurring nightmareChildhood nightmareNightmare disorder

Synonyms

  • 噩梦— bad dream, nightmare

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He had a nightmare last night (他昨晚做了个魘).
  • She woke up screaming from a nightmare (她从噩梦中惊醒).
  • The child was terrified by a nightmare (孩子被噩梦吓坏了).
  • The story is like a waking nightmare (这个故事像一场清醒的噩梦).

Collocations

  • Have a nightmare(做魘)
  • Waking nightmare(清醒的噩梦)
  • Nightmare experience(噩梦般的经历)
  • Recurring nightmare(反复出现的噩梦)
  • Childhood nightmare(童年噩梦)
  • Nightmare disorder(噩梦障碍)

Idioms

  • Like a nightmare, hard to wake from(如梦魇般难以醒来)
  • A lingering nightmare(萦绕不去的梦魇)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese folklore, nightmares were sometimes attributed to malevolent spirits or supernatural influences.
  • The character 魘 contains the 'ghost' radical (鬼), reflecting its historical association with the spiritual or demonic realm.
  • The concept appears in classical literature and medical texts discussing disorders of sleep and spirit.

FAQ