‘厉鬼’ literally combines 厉 (lì), meaning ‘fierce’, ‘severe’, or ‘terrible’, and 鬼 (guǐ), meaning ‘ghost’ or ‘spirit’. Together, it refers to a particularly vengeful, wrathful, or malevolent ghost—often one that haunts the living due to unresolved injustice, violent death, or deep resentment. Unlike generic ghosts (鬼), a 厉鬼 is characterized by its terrifying power, supernatural rage, and intent to harm or exact revenge.

This term appears frequently in classical Chinese literature, folklore, opera, and modern horror media. It carries strong cultural connotations rooted in traditional beliefs about the afterlife and karmic retribution. While not used in everyday conversation, 厉鬼 is common in storytelling, film subtitles, and discussions of Chinese mythology or supernatural themes. Its tone is dramatic and literary, rarely neutral or colloquial.