Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of fortunetelling is most commonly expressed with the word 占い (uranai), which covers a wide range of divination practices. This guide covers how to talk about getting your fortune told, types of fortunetelling, and related expressions.
The general concept of predicting the future or revealing hidden knowledge through supernatural or mystical means.
The most common and general term for fortunetelling or divination. Can refer to the practice, the result, or the act of having one's fortune told.
占いを信じますか？
Do you believe in fortunetelling?
今日、占いに行ってきた。
I went to get my fortune told today.
Used in compounds to specify types of fortunetelling, such as 手相占い (palm reading) or 星座占い (horoscope).
手相占いをしてもらった。
I had my palm read.
A more formal or literary term for divination, often used in historical or academic contexts.
古代の卜占の方法について研究している。
I am researching ancient methods of divination.
The act of visiting a fortuneteller or receiving a prediction.
I'm going to get my fortune told. · She had her fortune read yesterday.
Literally 'to have someone tell your fortune'. This is the most natural way to say you are getting a reading from a fortuneteller.
友達に占ってもらった。
I had my friend tell my fortune.
今度、占い師に占ってもらうつもりだ。
I plan to have a fortuneteller read my fortune next time.
Literally 'to go to fortunetelling'. A common way to say you are going to see a fortuneteller.
週末に占いに行こうと思っている。
I'm thinking of going to get my fortune told this weekend.
Another way to say 'to have one's fortune told', emphasizing the act of having the fortune 'looked at'.
占いを見てもらったら、いい結果だった。
When I had my fortune told, it was a good result.
A person who practices fortunetelling.
The standard term for a professional fortuneteller.
彼女は有名な占い師だ。
She is a famous fortuneteller.
Specifically a diviner who uses the I Ching (易経). Not commonly used in everyday conversation.
The outcome or message received from fortunetelling.
Refers to one's fortune or luck, often used in the context of a fortunetelling result.
今日の運勢はどうだった？
How was your fortune today?
Literally 'fortunetelling result'. A straightforward way to refer to the outcome of a reading.
占い結果が気になる。
I'm curious about the fortunetelling result.
A paper fortune slip obtained at Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. While not exactly 'fortunetelling' in the Western sense, it is a common form of fortune in Japan.
Specific methods or systems of divination.
Palm reading. Often combined with 占い as 手相占い.
手相を見てもらえますか？
Can you read my palm?
Horoscope or astrology. Very common in Japanese magazines and TV.
星座占いで今日の運勢をチェックする。
I check my daily horoscope.
Tarot card reading. Often used as タロット占い.
タロットカードで占う。
To tell fortunes with tarot cards.
While 占い (uranai) is fortunetelling, 運命 (unmei) means 'fate' or 'destiny'. Saying 'I believe in fate' is 運命を信じる, not 占いを信じる.
The verb 占う (uranau) means 'to tell fortunes'. You can use it transitively: 運勢を占う (to tell one's fortune). It is often used in the passive form 占われる when you are the subject of the reading.
To have a diviner tell your fortune (using I Ching).
When I drew my fortune slip, it was great luck.
Name-based fortunetelling, analyzing the number of strokes in kanji.
姓名判断で名前の運勢を調べる。
To check the fortune of a name through name divination.
Chinese Four Pillars of Destiny astrology. More detailed and traditional.
四柱推命で詳しく占ってもらった。
I had a detailed reading done with Four Pillars astrology.