How to Say "Magic" in Chinese

魔術 / 魔术

móshù

In Chinese, the English word 'magic' is translated as 魔術 / 魔术 (móshù). If unsure, use 魔術 / 魔术. Wiktionary also lists 戲法 / 戏法 (xìfǎ).

Meaning: illusion performed to give the appearance of magic or the supernatural (noun)

Ways to say it

“magic” in Chinese
Chinese	Romanization (Wiktionary)
魔術 / 魔术	móshù
戲法 / 戏法	xìfǎ

The term refers to the performance art of illusions. To say 'to perform magic' or 'to do a magic trick,' use the verb-object construction 變魔術.

魔術 / 魔术 is composed of 魔 (demon/magic) and 術 (art/technique/skill). 戲法 / 戏法 is composed of 戲 (play/drama) and 法 (method/way).

魔術 / 魔术 refers to the professional art or performance of magic, whereas 戲法 / 戏法 refers more specifically to a single trick or sleight of hand.

In the Cantonese dialect, the term for magic can be rendered as 魔術 (mo1 sut3).

móshù

While 魔術 describes the art of magic, the word 魔法 (mófǎ) is used specifically for the supernatural spells and sorcery found in fantasy novels and video games.
Depending on the context, 魔 can be used as a prefix to describe something '魔性' (móxìng), meaning it is 'addictive' or 'hauntingly catchy' like a magic spell.
The term 戲法 (xìfǎ) is closely linked to traditional Chinese folk arts, where simple 'tricks' were often performed during street festivals to draw crowds.

那位魔术师的表演非常精彩！(Nà wèi móshùshī de biǎoyǎn fēicháng jīngcǎi!)
That magician's performance was amazing!
她相信世界上存在魔法。(Tā xiāngxìn shìjiè shàng cúnzài mófǎ.)
She believes that magic exists in the world.
这个魔力十足的地方永远让人心驰神往。(Zhège mólì shízú de dìfāng yǒngguǎn ràng rén xīnchí shénwǎng.)
This place, full of magic, always captivates people's hearts.
他会变魔术，把硬币从一个手变到另一个手里。(Tā huì biàn móshù, bǎ yìngbì cóng yīgè shǒu biàn dào lìng yīgè shǒu lǐ.)
He can do magic tricks, transferring a coin from one hand to the other.

Sources

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