Translation guide
A person who predicts the future, often through supernatural or mystical means. In Japanese, the most common and neutral term is 占い師 (uranai-shi), but other words carry different nuances, from ancient Chinese-style diviners to modern fortune-tellers.
The most common, neutral way to refer to someone who tells fortunes, often as a profession.
The standard, everyday word for a fortune-teller. Can refer to anyone from a street palm reader to a TV personality. Neutral in tone.
彼女は有名な占い師です。
She is a famous fortune-teller.
あの占い師に手相を見てもらった。
I had my palm read by that fortune-teller.
Specifically a diviner using the I Ching (易経). More traditional and classical than 占い師. Often found in historical or literary contexts.
易者に易を立ててもらう。
I have a diviner cast a hexagram.
An archaic term for a diviner, especially one using tortoise shells or other ancient methods. Rarely used in modern Japanese.
古代の卜者が亀甲で占った。
Ancient diviners used tortoise shells for divination.
A person who receives visions or messages from gods or spirits, often in a religious or mythological context.
A prophet or seer who foretells future events, often with a sense of divine inspiration. Used for biblical prophets or fantasy characters.
彼は未来を予言する予言者だ。
He is a prophet who foretells the future.
予言者の言葉が現実になった。
The prophet's words came true.
A shrine maiden or shamaness who serves as a medium for divine messages. Traditionally female, associated with Shinto. Can also refer to a female fortune-teller in modern contexts.
巫女が神託を伝えた。
The shrine maiden conveyed the oracle.
Literally 'oracle person'. A rare, formal term for someone who delivers divine messages. Used in academic or religious texts.
神託者が神の言葉を告げた。
The oracle proclaimed the words of the god.
Terms that specify the method of divination, such as palm reading, astrology, or tarot.
A palm reader. More specific than 占い師, but commonly understood.
手相見に生命線が長いと言われた。
The palm reader told me my life line is long.
A tarot card reader. A common loanword-based term.
タロット占い師にカードを引いてもらった。
I had the tarot reader draw a card for me.
占い師 is a general fortune-teller, often using tools like cards or palms, and may be seen as a modern service. 予言者 implies a more mystical, prophetic figure who receives visions, often without tools. Use 予言者 for biblical prophets or fantasy seers.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches the archaic, mystical nuance of 'soothsayer'. Using 占い師 is safe for most contexts, but if you need a more ancient feel, consider 易者 or 卜者, though they are very specific.
An astrologer. Often used for Western-style horoscope readers.
星占い師が今月の運勢を教えてくれた。
The astrologer told me my fortune for this month.