巫師 / 巫师
wūshī
The English word 'sorcerer' can be translated into Chinese as 巫師 / 巫师 (wūshī). If unsure, use 巫師 / 巫师. Wiktionary also lists 魔術師 / 魔术师 (móshùshī) and 男巫 (nánwū).
Meaning: magician/wizard drawing upon natural powers (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 巫師 / 巫师 | wūshī |
| 魔術師 / 魔术师 | móshùshī |
| 男巫 | nánwū |
The term refers to a magician/wizard drawing upon natural powers.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 男巫 literally means 'male witch/wizard', composed of 男 (male) and 巫 (shaman/witch) to specifically denote a male practitioner of magic.
Which one should you use?
While 巫師 refers to a sorcerer or shaman with supernatural powers, 魔術師 / 魔术师 refers to a stage magician or illusionist who performs tricks. The term 男巫 is composed of 男 (male) and 巫 (shaman/witch), specifically denoting a male practitioner of magic, whereas its female equivalent is 女巫.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is wūshī.
Did you know?
- The character 巫 was originally a pictogram representing a person wearing a feathered headdress while performing rituals. This suggests that the very concept of a sorcerer in Chinese culture is rooted in the visual of a shaman in ritual dress.
- In ancient Chinese mythology, a 巫 was not necessarily seen as a villain or a dark figure, but rather as a vital intermediary between the human and spirit worlds. This contrasts with the often malevolent connotations of 'sorcerer' in Western fantasy.
- The character 魔 in 魔術師 carries a connotation of 'demon' or 'magic spirit'. When used in the context of a performer, it implies the person is creating 'demonic' illusions to trick the eyes.
Examples in context
- 在这个故事中，巫师使用魔法帮助主人公战胜邪恶势力。In this story, the sorcerer uses magic to help the protagonist defeat the forces of evil.
- 他是一名富有智慧的术士，通晓许多古老而神秘的仪式。He is a wise sorcerer who is well-versed in many ancient and mysterious rituals.
- 他被称为魔法师，因为他掌握着强大的魔法力量。He is known as a sorcerer because he possesses powerful magical abilities.
- 我的游戏角色是一位法师，他可以使用各种强大的法术。My game character is a sorcerer who can use various powerful spells.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sorcerer” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
