HSK Guide

Radical 194a ghost, a spirit; a demon

guǐ (third tone, dipping)

a ghost, a spirit; a demon

Radical 19410 strokes0 characters

Where the shape comes from

A kneeling person wearing an oversized, frightening mask, the head shape swollen out of proportion — a ritual disguise, probably worn in exorcism dances to impersonate or drive off the spirits of the dead. It gives 魂, a soul, paired with a cloud-like element for something insubstantial, and 鬼脸, a funny face, a grimace, the mask’s descendant sense of a face pulled to frighten or amuse.

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