How to say "curse" in Japanese

• 呪いのろいCommon
  nounThe noun for a curse or spell cast on someone, or a malediction. Use this for the thing itself — a witch's 呪い, a cursed object — not for resentment or punishment.
  のろいはのろい主ぬしに返かえる。↗

  Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.
• 呪うのろうCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbThe verb 'to curse' in the active sense: to put a curse on someone, or to detest them intensely. This is what you want for cursing as an act, whether magical or as bitter condemnation.
  全ぜん人類じんるいの罪つみのために俺おれ達たちは呪のろわれる。↗

  For all man's sins damned we shall be.
• 罰ばちJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounReally '(divine) punishment' or retribution rather than a curse; the 'curse' gloss covers the sense of a heaven-sent penalty, as in 罰が当たる. Seldom the word for a spell or malediction.
• 恨むうらむJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbReally 'to bear a grudge against' or 'to resent'; 'to curse' here is only the sense of bitterly holding something against a person or fate. Not the word for a magical curse or malediction.
  彼かれは彼女かのじょを恨うらんでいる。↗

  He hates her.

「呪い」/「呪う」 are the words for cursing someone or something cursed; 罰 is really divine punishment or retribution, and 「恨む」 is really bearing a grudge, so both suit 'curse' only in narrow senses.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 呪いのろいcurse
• 呪うのろうto curse
• 罰ばち(divine) punishment
• 恨むうらむto bear a grudge against
• たたりcurse
• 呪じゅspell
• 祟るたたるto curse
• 呪詛じゅそcurse
• 悪罵あくばcurse
• 毒づくどくづくto curse (at someone)
• カースcurse
• 罵りののしりabuse
• 呪言じゅごんspell
• 悪態をつくあくたいをつくto use abusive language
• まじないcharm
• おまじないcharm
• まじなうto pray for harm or death to come upon someone