魂

䰟

hún

云 + 鬼

Definitions

hún (noun) soul; spirit

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 鬼 represents the meaning and 云 represents the sound. Simplified form of 䰟.

Semantic: 鬼 Phonetic: 云

About

The character 魂 is a phono-semantic compound: the right-side radical 鬼 (ghost, spirit) provides the meaning, while the left-side component 云 (cloud) supplies the sound and evokes an ethereal, airy quality. In traditional Chinese philosophy, the soul is understood as dual-natured. 魂 specifically denotes the yang, spiritual aspect, a cloud-like consciousness and essential life force that ascends upon death, carrying one's personality and mental faculties.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的灵魂很善良。

Tā de línghún hěn shànliáng.

His soul is very kind.

鬼魂在夜晚出现。

Guǐhún zài yèwǎn chūxiàn.

Ghosts appear at night.

音乐触动我的灵魂。

Yīnyuè chùdòng wǒ de línghún.

Music touches my soul.

她的魂魄似乎不安。

Tā de húnpò sìhū bù'ān.

Her spirit seems uneasy.

民族魂是宝贵的精神。

Mínzú hún shì bǎoguì de jīngshén.

The national soul is a precious spirit.

灵魂的深度需要探索。

Línghún de shēndù xūyào tànsuǒ.

The depth of the soul needs to be explored.

在困难中，灵魂获得成长。

Zài kùnnan zhōng, línghún huòdé chéngzhǎng.

In difficulty, the soul gains growth.

这部小说揭示了角色的灵魂挣扎。

Zhè bù xiǎoshuō jiēshìle juésè de línghún zhēngzhá.

This novel reveals the soul struggles of the characters.

Related Characters

Component: 云

Component: 鬼

魂