妖精

yāojing
noun #8,241

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 demon; evil spirit; monster
  2. 2 (colloquial) seductress; enchantress; vixen

Characters

A demon () spirit () — a supernatural being, often one that has taken human form.

Examples

Zhège gùshi lǐ yǒu hěn duō yāojing.
There are many demons in this story.
Sūn Wùkōng dǎbài le Báigǔjīng zhège yāojing.
Sun Wukong defeated the demon White Bone Spirit.
Tā dǎbàn de xiàng gè xiǎo yāojing.
She's dressed up like a little enchantress.

Tips

culture
In Chinese mythology (especially Journey to the West), 妖精 are animals or plants that have cultivated spiritual power and taken human form to trick or harm people. The fox spirit (狐狸精) is the most famous type.
usage
When used to describe a woman, 妖精 can be either playfully teasing or derogatory, depending on tone. It implies someone seductive or enchanting — similar to calling someone a 'vixen' in English.

Stroke Order

yāo
jīng