yêu quái

yêu quái

Một yêu quái đang ẩn nấp trong khu rừng tối.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • Monster; demon; evil spirit: A supernatural, often malevolent, being from folklore or mythology, typically possessing magical powers and a frightening appearance.
    • Fiend; devil: An entity symbolizing extreme evil or cunning.

  2. Adjective (less common):

    • Diabolical; fiendish; monstrous: Describing something cunning, evil, or unnaturally clever in a malicious way.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • Truyện cổ tích thường có các yêu quái sống trong rừng sâu. (Folk tales often feature monsters living in the deep forest.)
    • Yêu quái đó bắt cóc trẻ em. (That demon kidnaps children.)

  • Adjective:

    • Hắn ta có một mưu mô yêu quái. (He has a diabolical scheme.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term is deeply rooted in Vietnamese folk religion and mythology, often used in stories involving heroes who vanquish such creatures.
  • It can be used metaphorically to describe a person of extreme cruelty or malicious intent.
    • Bọn buôn người là một lũ yêu quái. (Human traffickers are a bunch of monsters.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Yêu tinh (n): Another common term for goblin, spirit, or monster, sometimes used interchangeably with , though can imply a slightly lesser degree of power or a specific type of spirit.
  • Quỷ (n): Ghost, devil, demon. This is a broader term for evil spirits and is often a component of malevolent entities.
  • Ma quỷ (n): Ghosts and demons; the general realm of evil supernatural beings.
Synonyms
  • Monster: An imaginary creature that is typically large, frightening, and ugly.
  • Demon: An evil spirit or devil.
  • Fiend: An evil spirit or a very cruel or unpleasant person.
  • Goblin: A mischievous, ugly creature from folklore.
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • Yêu quái hiện hình: The monster reveals its true form; meaning to reveal one's true, ugly, or evil nature.
    • Đến lúc nguy cấp, yêu quái mới hiện hình. (In the critical moment, the monster revealed its true form.)
  • Mưu mô yêu quái: Diabolical/fiendish plot. A common collocation highlighting the adjective use.
    • Hắn nghĩ ra những mưu mô yêu quái để hại người. (He devises fiendish plots to harm people.)