魂魄

húnpò
noun #23,605

Meanings

  1. 1 soul
  2. 2 spirit (the combined ethereal and corporeal souls)

Examples

HSK 6
Gǔrén xiāngxìn rén sǐhòu húnpò bú sàn.
The ancients believed that the soul does not disperse after death.
HSK 7-9
Tā bèi xià de húnpò chūqiào.
She was so frightened that her soul nearly left her body.

Tips

culture
In classical Chinese belief, a person has two distinct souls: 魂 (hún) is the ethereal, heavenly soul - the seat of consciousness - while 魄 (pò) is the corporeal, earthly soul tied to the physical body. Together, 魂魄 represents the complete spiritual self. At death, 魂 ascends to heaven while 魄 remains with the body.

Stroke Order

魂 hún
魄 pò