You may know the word Mononoke because of the popular Miyazaki movie “ Princess Mononoke” (もののけ姫 – Mononoke hime), Different Types Of Japanese Demons: Oni ・鬼 However, in the past, it referred to ghostly things such as souls or spirits, with the meaning of something dangerous and uncertain. 物 ( mono) refers today to a concrete thing. 怪 ( kai) is the kanji with the meaning “suspicious, strange”, as in the adjective 怪しい ( ayashii). Literally, it means “thing of the mystery”, with a sense of spookiness and mystery. This one refers even today to evil spirits or invisible beings which can take possession of a human. For example, the term 物の怪 Mononoke was commonly used in the Heian period. In fact, during past historical periods, other terms have been used. In brief, all things are beyond the realm of explanation.
Recently, this term includes the entire concept of mysterious phenomena and weird creatures. Two Chinese characters create this word, both of which denote strangeness, mystery, suspicion. You can translate it with the words spirits, goblins, specters, fantastic beings, and most commonly today, monsters. Yōkai ・ようかい (in kanji: 妖怪) is the most common word to express the concept of “ demon“.
#World of demons guide how to#
Here’s an easy guide to learning the most important vocabulary about Japanese demons and spirits’ world! How To Say “Demons” In Japanese? The Word “Yōkai” Many Yōkai originated in local legends, folktales, and regional ghost stories. How would you explain mysterious sounds, supernatural phenomena, or the feeling when someone is watching you? In Japan, as elsewhere, they refer to these inexplicable occurrences and supernatural creatures mainly with the word “ Yōkai” – Demons.ĭo you know the most famous ones? Monsters, ghosts, and fantastic beings are currently popular in anime, manga, film, and computer games.
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