ghost, devil
On'yomi (音読み)
- キ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
- おに
- おに-
About this kanji
The kanji 鬼, pronounced 'oni,' primarily means 'ghost' or 'devil.' It is often used as a noun, especially in folklore and children's games. For example, 鬼神 (kijin) refers to a fierce god, while 吸血鬼 (kyūketsuki) means 'vampire.' Another fun usage is 鬼ごっこ (onigokko), which is a popular children's game similar to tag, where one person is 'the demon.' Additionally, the phrase 疑心暗鬼 (gishin anki) suggests that suspicion can create fear or paranoia. A notable point about 鬼 is that it embodies themes of fear in Japanese culture, often representing supernatural beings.
Example sentences
彼は鬼のように厳しい指導者だ。
He is a leader as strict as a demon.
Meanings across languages
- English
- ghost, devil
- Tiếng Việt
- ma, quỷ
- 日本語
- 鬼
- 한국어
- 귀신
- 中文
- 鬼
- id
- hantu
- th
- ผี
- es
- fantasma
- fr
- fantôme
- de
- Gespenst
- pt
- fantasma
Common compounds
- 鬼神きしんfierce god
- 吸血鬼きゅうけつきvampire, bloodsucker
- 鬼ごっこおにごっこtag (children's game), tig
- 疑心暗鬼ぎしんあんきsuspicion will raise bogies, once you suspect something, everything else will look suspicious, jumping at shadows
- 鬼才きさいwizard, genius, remarkable talent
- 鬼気ききghastly, dreadful
- 鬼門きもんthe northeastern (unlucky) direction, person or thing to be avoided, the demon's gate
- 鬼子母神きしもじんHariti (goddess of childbirth and children)
Want to actually learn this kanji?
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