Japanese word

魔

Pronunciation

Romajima

Meaning

  • noundemon

Example

昔の人は、病気を魔のせいだと考えました。mukashi no hito wa byō ki o ma no se i da to kanga e ma shi ta

People in the past thought demons caused illness.

Illustration for 魔 (demon)

More examples

その物語では、魔が人々の心を惑わせます。so no monogatari de wa ma ga hito bito no kokoro o mado wa se ma su

In that story, a demon clouds people's minds.

Core concept

Describes a supernatural being or force believed to bring harm, extending from a literal demon to an evil influence.

Common phrases

  • 魔を封じるma o fū ji ru

    seal away evil

  • 魔の手ma no te

    the clutches of evil

  • 魔が差すma ga sa su

    give in to temptation

Similar words

悪魔akuma: An evil supernatural being associated with temptation, punishment, or spiritual harm.
魔物mamono: A supernatural creature regarded as dangerous or harmful in folklore or fantasy.
妖怪yōkai: A supernatural creature from Japanese folklore with unusual powers or behavior.
邪気jaki: A harmful spiritual influence believed to enter or surround a person or place.

Definition in Japanese

人に災いをもたらすとされる超自然的な存在や、その働き。hito ni wazawa i o mo ta ra su to sa re ru chō shi zen teki na son zai ya so no hatara ki

Word origin

The Japanese noun 魔 (ma, "demon") uses the Sino-Japanese reading of the Chinese Buddhist term 魔, which represents Sanskrit Māra, a tempter or demon.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 魔 (ma) is more often encountered inside compounds such as 魔法 (mahō, "magic") than as a standalone noun, while fantasy uses it to signal the supernatural.

Other meanings

  • devilnoun
  • evil influencenoun

Related words

  • 魔性mashōdemonic naturenoun

Word lists with this word