鬼灭之刃
guǐ miè zhī rèn
The English phrase 'demon slayer' is translated into Chinese as 鬼灭之刃 (guǐ miè zhī rèn).
This phrase refers to the title of the popular Japanese manga and anime series.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 鬼 (demon), 灭 (destroy/extinguish), 之 (possessive particle) and 刃 (blade).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, 'Demon Slayer' can be expressed as 魔鬼獵人.
How does it change in a sentence?
The character 之 acts as a formal possessive particle, similar to the English 'of' in 'Blade of Demon Destruction'.
How do you pronounce it?
guǐ miè zhī rèn
Did you know?
- In many Chinese dialects, the term 鬼 is also used colloquially as a slang term for a person who is particularly cunning or mischievous, similar to calling someone a 'rascal' in English.
- The character 刃 focuses on the thin cutting edge of a weapon rather than the entire sword, implying a precision strike.
- The particle 之 is a relic of Classical Chinese. Using it in the title makes the phrase sound like an epic poem or an ancient legend rather than a modern sentence.
