ma quỉ

Một đứa trẻ sợ hãi khi nghĩ về ma quỉ trong bóng tối.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Ghosts and demons / Evil spirits: The term "ma quỉ" refers to malevolent supernatural beings, including ghosts and demons, believed to cause harm or fear.
   • A mischievous or teasing person: Figuratively, it describes a person who habitually plays tricks on or teases others.

Usage Examples

• Noun (supernatural beings):

  • Những câu chuyện về ma quỉ thường rất đáng sợ. (Stories about ghosts and demons are often very scary.)
  • Người ta nói ngôi nhà cũ có ma quỉ trú ngụ. (They say the old house is inhabited by evil spirits.)

• Noun (mischievous person):

  • Thằng bé đó đúng là đồ ma quỉ, suốt ngày trêu chọc bạn bè. (That boy is a real imp, teasing his friends all day long.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a collective sense to represent the concept of supernatural evil or haunting presences, rather than a single entity.
• It can be used in exclamations to express fear, surprise, or frustration towards an unexplained or annoying situation.
  • Ma quỉ thật! Đèn tự nhiên tắt. (Good heavens! The light suddenly went out.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ma (n): ghost, spirit.

  • Cô ấy sợ ma. (She is afraid of ghosts.)

• Quỷ (n): devil, demon.

  • Hắn ta độc ác như quỷ. (He is as cruel as a devil.)

• Yêu quái (n): monster, fiend.

  • Truyền thuyết kể về một con yêu quái trong rừng. (The legend tells of a monster in the forest.)

Synonyms

• Evil spirits: Malevolent supernatural entities.
• Demons: Malicious, powerful supernatural beings.
• Imp: A small, mischievous creature or person.

Related Idioms

• Nói ma nói quỷ: To talk nonsense or superstitious things.

  • Đừng có nói ma nói quỷ ở đây. (Don't talk such nonsense here.)

• Mặt ma mặt quỷ: To have a fierce, frightening, or very angry facial expression.

  • Sao anh lại mặt ma mặt quỷ thế? (Why do you look so furious?)