How to say "witchcraft" in Japanese

• 魔法まほうCommon
  no-adjectiveThe general word for magic, covering witchcraft as spells and magical power worked by witches and wizards; the natural choice in fairy tales, fantasy stories, and everyday talk about magic.
  あいつに魔法まほうをかけてカエルにしてやろう。↗

  I'll bewitch him into a frog!
• 魔術まじゅつCommon
  nounAlso covers witchcraft and sorcery, with its 術 ('art') element giving a nuance of magic as an art or technique; it suits sorcery and occult contexts, where magic is treated as a craft.
  男おとこは魔術まじゅつで少女しょうじょを恐おそれさせた。↗

  The man awed the girl with his magic tricks.

Both translate 'witchcraft': use 魔法 for magic in the general sense of spells and magical power, as in fairy tales and fantasy, and 魔術 when magic is framed as a practiced craft or art, as in sorcery.

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

• 魔法まほうmagic
• 魔術まじゅつmagic
• 妖術ようじゅつ(black) magic
• 術法じゅつほうmagic
• 幻術げんじゅつmagic