mo1 faat3魔法
Jyutpingmo1 faat3
Yalemō faat
Definition
Magic, sorcery, or wizardry; supernatural powers depicted in legends and stories that go beyond mere sleight of hand.
colloquialother
How it's used
Distinguish this from 魔術, which refers specifically to stage magic or sleight of hand performed by a human. 魔法 implies a supernatural or mystical force that defies natural laws, often found in fantasy settings or folklore. It is frequently used metaphorically to describe something that seems impossibly efficient or transformative.
Examples
It is like he knows magic; he made a cake appear.
Do you think there is magic here? Hurry up and get to work.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse 魔法 with 魔術. Using 魔法 to describe a professional magician's performance sounds unnatural because it implies they are using actual supernatural powers rather than tricks.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
