ma da

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Water demon / water spirit: A malevolent spirit or demon believed in Vietnamese folklore, especially in regional dialects, to inhabit bodies of water. It is superstitiously thought to drown swimmers by pulling their legs underwater.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người dân làng tin rằng con sông này có ma da. (The villagers believe this river is inhabited by a water demon.)
  • Theo truyền thuyết, ma da chuyên kéo chân người đi tắm. (According to legend, the water demon specializes in pulling the legs of bathers.)

Advanced Usage

• The concept of "ma da" belongs to the realm of folk belief and superstition, often used in stories to explain drowning accidents or to warn children about the dangers of swimming in certain rivers or ponds.

Variants and Related Words

• Thủy quái (n): water monster; a more general term for a monstrous creature living in water.
• Yêu tinh (n): demon; evil spirit; a broader term for malevolent supernatural beings.

Synonyms

• Water demon
• Malevolent water spirit
• Aquatic evil spirit

Related Cultural Concepts

• Superstition about water spirits: This belief is part of a wider cultural tradition in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries that attributes mysterious deaths in water to the actions of spirits or ghosts, serving as a cautionary tale.