Definitions

guī grand; strange; exotic
kuǐ used in 傀儡[kuǐ lěi]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 傀 is structurally composed of the human radical 人 paired with the component 鬼, which functions as a phonetic indicator while also imparting associations with the ghostly or unnatural. In classical usage, 傀 independently conveyed the sense of "great" or "grand", but its meaning shifted when it became fixed in the compound 傀儡, a term believed to have entered Chinese from foreign sources to describe theatrical puppets. This association led to 傀 losing its earlier standalone meaning and becoming primarily linked to the concept of puppetry or indirect control, with the element 鬼 further contributing a residual nuance of strangeness or unreality to the character.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个儡很可爱。

Zhège kuǐlěi hěn kě'ài.

This puppet is very cute.

儡戏很有趣。

Kuǐlěi xì hěn yǒuqù.

Puppet shows are very interesting.

他被当作儡。

Tā bèi dàngzuò kuǐlěi.

He is treated as a puppet.

儡没有自己的思想。

Kuǐlěi méiyǒu zìjǐ de sīxiǎng.

Puppets do not have their own thoughts.

她操纵着那个儡。

Tā cāozòng zhe nàgè kuǐlěi.

She is manipulating that puppet.

孩子们喜欢看儡表演。

Háizimen xǐhuān kàn kuǐlěi biǎoyǎn.

Children like to watch puppet performances.

那个政权是个儡政府。

Nàgè zhèngquán shì gè kuǐlěi zhèngfǔ.

That regime is a puppet government.

虽然他是领导人,但实际上他只是个儡,所有决定都由幕后人物掌控。

Suīrán tā shì lǐngdǎo rén, dàn shíjì shàng tā zhǐshì gè kuǐlěi, suǒyǒu juédìng dōu yóu mùhòu rénwù zhǎngkòng.

Although he is the leader, in reality he is just a puppet, and all decisions are controlled by behind-the-scenes figures.