How to say "ghost" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 幽霊ゆうれいnounThe default word for a ghost in the classic sense: the spirit of a dead person appearing to the living, as in ghost stories and hauntings.
- 妖怪ようかいnounDespite the gloss 'ghost', this really covers supernatural monsters and uncanny creatures rather than the spirit of a dead person; seldom the word you want for a ghost.
- nounThe English loanword in katakana; used where the English term itself is kept as-is, in technical or pop-culture contexts, rather than in everyday talk about spirits.
- nounA casual word for spooky supernatural beings, ghosts and monsters alike; broader and less specific than 幽霊, which points to a dead person's spirit.
- 亡者もうじゃnounMeans the dead themselves — departed souls — rather than an apparition that appears; not the everyday word for a ghost you might see.
Use 幽霊 for the spirit of a dead person, 「おばけ」 for casual talk of ghosts and monsters, 「ゴースト」 where the English loanword fits, 妖怪 for supernatural monsters, and 亡者 for the dead themselves.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 幽霊ゆうれいghost
- 妖怪ようかいghost
- ゴーストghost
- おばけghost
- 亡者もうじゃthe dead
- 霊れいsoul
- 化け物ばけものgoblin
- 変化へんげshapeshifting (of an animal or spirit)
- 精霊せいれいspirit
- 霊体れいたいghost
- 妖魔ようまghost
- 幽鬼ゆうきghost
- 妖鬼ようきghost
- 魂魄こんぱくsoul
- 死霊しりょうspirit of a dead person
- 背後霊はいごれいspirit (hiding behind one's back)
- 物の怪もののけevil spirit
- 亡霊ぼうれいghost
- 心霊しんれいspirit
- 怪異かいいghost
- 曲者くせものgoblin
See also
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