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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "ghost" or "phantom" with 幽灵 (yōulíng)

    Description & Modification

    Structure

    幽灵 + Noun

    Explanation

    The noun 幽灵 (yōulíng) means "ghost" or "phantom" and can refer to a supernatural spirit or be used figuratively to describe something illusory or fraudulent. In political and news contexts, it often appears in compounds like 幽灵工程 (ghost project), referring to fraudulent construction projects that exist only on paper. It carries a mysterious or sinister tone.

    Examples

    • 这栋老房子据说有幽灵出没。

      zhè dòng lǎo fángzi jùshuō yǒu yōulíng chūmò.

      This old house is said to be haunted by ghosts.

    • 调查发现这是一个典型的幽灵工程。

      diàochá fāxiàn zhè shì yī ge diǎnxíng de yōulíng gōngchéng.

      The investigation revealed this to be a typical ghost project.

    • 她总觉得走廊里有幽灵的影子。

      tā zǒng juéde zǒuláng lǐ yǒu yōulíng de yǐngzi.

      She always feels like there are ghostly shadows in the hallway.

    Expressing "ghost" or "phantom" with 幽灵 (yōulíng) | Chinese Grammar