About
The character 魇, originating from its traditional form 魘, is structured with the radical 鬼 meaning ghost and the component 厭 which provided phonetic indication and later simplified to 厌. This composition etymologically links nightmares to spectral entities, a concept present in early Chinese interpretations. Over time, the character's primary definition as a distressing dream caused by evil spirits has persisted, though its application expanded to encompass metaphorical uses describing any haunting or oppressive fear.
Etymology Hide
