Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
妖怪 (ようかい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 5,000 Meanings 1
noun
yōkai ; supernatural creature ; monster ; ghost
Broad term for a wide range of Japanese folkloric beings, from malevolent demons to mischievous spirits. Often left as 'yōkai' in English when referring to the specific Japanese concept.
アニメ
は
妖よう
怪かい
を
テーマ
に
し
て
いる
。
This anime is themed around yōkai.
Kanji 妖 attractive, bewitching, calamity 怪 suspicious, mystery, apparition Similar words 幽ゆう 霊れい 幽霊 specifically refers to ghosts of the dead, often depicted as ethereal and sorrowful, while 妖怪 encompasses a broader range of supernatural beings, including monsters and spirits not necessarily tied to human death.
お 化ば け お化け is a more colloquial and child-friendly term for ghosts and monsters, often used in everyday speech, whereas 妖怪 is the standard term used in folklore studies and media.
Etymology From Chinese 妖怪 (yāoguài). The kanji 妖 means 'bewitching' or 'mysterious', and 怪 means 'strange' or 'mysterious'. The word was adopted into Japanese with the same meaning of strange, supernatural beings.
