Definition

1. Noun:
   • Ghost, demon, evil spirit: "yêu ma" refers to a malevolent supernatural being, often depicted as a ghost, demon, or monster in folklore and stories.
   • A cunning, wicked person: Figuratively, "yêu ma" is used to describe a person who is extremely cunning, deceitful, and wicked.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Supernatural being):

  • Trong câu chuyện cổ tích, người anh hùng đã đánh bại con yêu ma. (In the fairy tale, the hero defeated the demon.)
  • Đứa trẻ sợ hãi vì nghĩ trong ngôi nhà cũ có yêu ma. (The child was scared, thinking there was a ghost in the old house.)

• Noun (Figurative - wicked person):

  • Hắn ta là một tên yêu ma, luôn tìm cách lừa gạt người khác. (He is a wicked fiend, always looking for ways to deceive others.)
  • Bọn yêu ma ấy chuyên đi lừa đảo người già. (That gang of cunning devils specializes in scamming the elderly.)

Advanced Usage

• "yêu ma quỷ quái": This is a common four-word idiom that intensifies the meaning, translating to "all sorts of demons and monsters" or "utterly wicked and cunning beings."
  • Khu rừng đó đầy rẫy chuyện yêu ma quỷ quái. (That forest is full of tales of demons and monsters.)
  • Công ty đó toàn là một lũ yêu ma quỷ quái. (That company is full of a bunch of utterly wicked schemers.)

Variants and Related Words

• Yêu quái (n): Monster, goblin. Often used interchangeably with "yêu ma" for supernatural beings.
• Ma quỷ (n): Ghosts and devils. A general term for evil spirits.
• Ác ma (n): Evil demon. Emphasizes the malicious nature.
• Tinh ma (n): A cunning, tricky spirit or person.

Synonyms

• Quỷ (n): Devil, demon.
• Quái vật (n): Monster.
• Kẻ gian manh (n): A deceitful, cunning person (for the figurative sense).

Related Phrases

• Đồ yêu ma!: An exclamation meaning "You fiend!" or "You devil!", used to express anger or condemnation towards someone's wicked actions.
  • Đồ yêu ma! Mày đã lừa tao! (You fiend! You tricked me!)

Related Idioms

• Yêu tinh ma quái: Similar to "yêu ma quỷ quái," meaning evil spirits and strange monsters, or形容非常狡猾邪恶的人 (describing very cunning and evil people).
  • Chúng nó yêu tinh ma quái lắm, đừng có tin. (They are very cunning fiends, don't trust them.)

noun

1. ghost