chāng

伥

Character · NounTraditional倀

ghost of one devoured by a tiger; accomplice of an evildoer

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

ghost of one devoured by a tiger

literary

In Chinese folklore, it is believed that a person eaten by a tiger becomes its ghostly servant, the 'chang gui' (伥鬼), who lures other victims to the tiger.

Chuán传
shuō说
zhōng中
bèi被
hǔ虎
chī吃
diào掉
de的
rén人
huì会
biàn变
chéng成
chāng伥
guǐ鬼
 。

Legend has it that a person devoured by a tiger becomes a 'chang gui'.

Nà那
ge个
gù故
shì事
lǐ里
yǒu有
kě可
pà怕
de的
chāng伥
guǐ鬼
chū出
mò没
 。

That story features terrifying 'chang gui' ghosts.

2.

noun

accomplice of an evildoer; henchman

formal

Used idiomatically in the phrase 为虎作伥 (wèi hǔ zuò chāng). It describes a person who actively helps a villain harm others, akin to the ghost serving the tiger.

Tā他
gān甘
yuàn愿
wèi为
nà那
ge个
è恶
bà霸
wèi为
hǔ虎
zuò作
chāng伥
 。

He willingly acts as the henchman for that local tyrant.

Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
nà那
xiē些
wèi为
qīn侵
lüè略
zhě者
wèi为
hǔ虎
zuò作
chāng伥
de的
rén人
zuì最
zhōng终
bèi被
rén人
mín民
tuò唾
qì弃
 。

Those in history who served as accomplices to the invaders were ultimately spurned by the people.