科幻

• Pinyin: kē huàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 科 = 禾 (grain) + 斗 (measure) — category, science; 幻 = 幺 (tiny) + 乚 — illusion, fantasy

Meaning

Science fiction; sci-fi.

Short for 科学幻想 (scientific fantasy). Refers to the genre of fiction dealing with futuristic science and technology. Collocates with 小说 (novel), 电影 (movie), 作品 (work).

Examples

1. 刘慈欣的三体是中国科幻小说的巅峰之作。 Liu Cixin's 'The Three-Body Problem' is the pinnacle of Chinese science fiction.
2. 这部科幻电影的特效做得非常逼真，仿佛身临其境。 The special effects in this sci-fi movie are incredibly realistic — it feels like you're actually there.
3. 小时候我特别喜欢看科幻漫画，幻想未来世界的样子。 When I was young, I especially loved reading sci-fi comics, imagining what the future world would look like.

Usage Guide

Context: entertainment, literature, media

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你喜欢看科幻片吗？(Do you like watching sci-fi movies?)
• 这是一部经典的科幻小说。(This is a classic sci-fi novel.)

Don't Say

• 这个科幻故事是真实发生的。(科幻 by definition is fiction — don't use it for actual science or real events)

Origin & History

科(学) (science) + 幻(想) (fantasy). Abbreviation of 科学幻想.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal