怪物|かいぶつkaibutsu[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounmonster
   怪物かいぶつは残酷ざんこくな微笑ほほえみを浮うかべた。↗

   The monster's smile was cruel.

• Synonym化け物ばけものCasualCovers goblins and ghosts, and figuratively a person of exceptional ability; more colloquial than 「怪物」, which is neutral and can also mean a creature of unknown origin.
• Synonym魔物まものNeutralRefers to evil, demonic things and demons, also figuratively something that lures people astray or defies prediction; 「怪物」 centers on scary, uncanny creatures.
• Synonym怪獣かいじゅうNeutralA strange creature of unknown identity, often the giant beasts of tokusatsu works; 「怪物」 covers more ground and can also describe people figuratively.
• SynonymモンスターNeutralA loanword for monster, common in games; also applied to unreasonably demanding people, as in 「モンスターペアレント」.
• Synonym妖怪ようかいNeutralSupernatural beings of folk belief such as kappa and tengu. 「怪物」 is not tied to legend and can also cover strange things in real life.
• RelatedおばけCasualColloquial word for ghosts and goblins with a friendly feel, common in children's talk; also something abnormally huge. Lighter in tone than 「怪物」.
• Related巨人きょじんNeutralA giant of legend or an unusually tall person, also figuratively a great figure; carries no sense of being scary or monstrous.
• Related鬼おにNeutralThe oni of Japanese legend, also figuratively a ruthless, cold-hearted person. 「怪物」 broadly covers scary strange things; its figurative sense is exceptional ability.
• Related物の怪もののけWrittenA vengeful spirit or yōkai beyond human understanding; classical in flavor, seen in old literature and historical settings. 「怪物」 is about scary uncanny creatures.
• Related幽鬼ゆうきWrittenA ghost or spirit of the dead; a literary, written word. 「怪物」 means a frightening creature and does not specifically mean a dead person's spirit.
• Related妖魔ようまWrittenDemons and yōkai; strongly literary in flavor. In everyday speech use 「化け物」 or 「妖怪」; 「怪物」 is the more neutral choice.
• Antonym凡人ぼんじんWrittenAn ordinary person of average talent; the opposite of 「怪物」 in its figurative sense of exceptional ability. Slightly written in flavor.
• Antonym普通の人NeutralAn ordinary, average person; the everyday counterpart to 「怪物」 in its figurative sense of exceptional ability.

Use 「怪物」 for a frightening, uncanny creature; in casual speech 「化け物」 is the more common word. Legendary yōkai take 「妖怪」, and the giant beasts of tokusatsu shows are 「怪獣」. 「怪物」 can also describe a person of extraordinary ability.

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

1. 得体えたいの知しれないまた怖こわい生き物いきもの。化け物ばけもの。
2. （比喩的ひゆてき）能力のうりょくが飛とびぬけて優すぐれている人ひと。