精霊・聖霊|しょうりょうshouryou[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
精霊精霊（しょうりょう） is the more common of these two kanji spellings, but beginners should avoid it and use 亡霊（ぼうれい） instead.
聖霊聖霊 is less common than 精霊（しょうりょう）; beginners should avoid it and use 亡霊（ぼうれい） instead.
Definitions
- noun, Buddhismspirit of the deceased
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym霊魂れいこんNeutralReligious and philosophical term for the soul. 「精霊」 read 「しょうりょう」 refers to the spirits of the dead welcomed and sent off at Obon.
- Synonym心霊しんれいNeutralCovers the soul and the paranormal; common in 「心霊写真」 and 「心霊現象」. 「精霊」 is limited to spirits of the deceased.
- Synonym魂たましいNeutralThe most common word: soul, but also spirit and mettle, as in 「大和魂」. 「精霊」 refers only to the spirits of the dead.
- Synonym霊れいNeutralAn alternative writing of 「魂」; read 「たましい」, it likewise means soul and spirit. 「精霊」 refers only to the spirits of the dead.
Use 「精霊」 for the spirits of the dead welcomed and sent off at Obon, as in 「精霊流し」. For the soul in general say 「魂」 or 「霊魂」, and for the paranormal 「心霊」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
- （せいれい、しょうりょう）死者の魂。
- （しょうりょう）精霊祭。
Kanji in this word
