How to Say
How to Write
yāo
Radical: 女 7 strokes
Meaning: goblin
💡 A woman (女) who dies young (夭) becomes a goblin (妖).
Compounds

📚 Character Story & Explanation

妖 (yāo) meaning in English —

妖 (yāo) means 'goblin' or 'demon', reflecting Chinese folk beliefs in supernatural beings. It combines the radical 女 (female) with 夭 (yāo, early death), suggesting alluring yet dangerous spirits. In modern Chinese, 妖 describes enchantresses or evil forces, as in 妖怪 (yāoguài, monster). It appears in idioms like 人妖不分 (unable to distinguish humans from demons), cautioning against deception.

💬 Example Sentences

Common Compounds

Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up

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