Japanese word

妖怪

Pronunciation

Romajiyōkai

Meaning

  • nounyōkai

Example

日本には妖怪の話がたくさんあります。nihon ni wa yō kai no hanashi ga ta ku sa n a ri ma su

There are many stories about yōkai in Japan.

Illustration for 妖怪 (yōkai)

More examples

子どもたちは妖怪を怖がっています。ko do mo ta chi wa yō kai o kowa ga tte i ma su

The children are afraid of yōkai.

Core concept

妖怪 (yōkai) refers to a supernatural being in Japanese tradition, with forms and behavior that can range from frightening to playful.

Common phrases

  • 妖怪の話yō kai no hanashi

    a story about yōkai

  • 妖怪が出るyō kai ga de ru

    a yōkai appears

  • 妖怪を退治するyō kai o tai ji su ru

    defeat a yōkai

Similar words

化け物bakemono: A supernatural creature that changes form or appears frightening.
お化けobake: A colloquial name for a supernatural being that frightens people.

Definition in Japanese

日本の伝承に登場する、人知を超えた力を持つとされる異形の存在。nihon no den shō ni tō jō su ru jin chi o ko e ta chikara o mo tsu to sa re ru i gyō no son zai

Word origin

妖怪 (yōkai) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 妖 (yō, "bewitching or strange") and 怪 (kai, "strange or uncanny").

Usage tips

  • The loanword 妖怪 (yōkai) is broader than the English word monster because it can include ghosts, animals, objects, and unusual phenomena in Japanese folklore.

Other meanings

  • monsternoun
  • ghostnoun

Word lists with this word