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The character 魉 (traditional form 魎) is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical 鬼 indicates an association with ghosts or supernatural beings, while 两 (or 兩) provides the pronunciation. This character almost exclusively appears as part of the compound 魍魉, which refers to mythological creatures, forest spirits, or mischievous demons inhabiting natural landscapes like mountains and rivers. Its meaning is confined to folklore and ancient mythology, representing unseen or shadowy forces. 魉 does not function independently in modern secular usage, instead serving as a specialized term for eerie, supernatural aspects of the natural world within traditional contexts.