怪物
guài wu · HSK 7
monster
👹 怪 strange + 物 thing = a strange thing = monster
怪 means strange or weird; 物 means thing or object. A strange thing is a monster, freak, or eccentric person. Note the pronunciation is guài wù (fourth tone on 物).
怪 — heart radical 忄 + 圣 (phonetic)
怪 combines the heart radical 忄, suggesting feelings or mental states, with 圣 serving as a phonetic component. The original sense relates to something strange or uncanny that provokes wonder or unease in the heart. It now broadly means 'strange,' 'odd,' or 'to blame.'