Translation guide
The English word "psychic" can refer to a person with supernatural abilities, the abilities themselves, or phenomena related to the mind. This guide covers how to express these concepts naturally in Japanese.
Referring to someone who claims to have extrasensory perception, such as a fortune-teller or medium.
Referring to supernatural mental powers like telepathy, clairvoyance, or precognition.
Used in psychological or scientific contexts, as in 'psychic phenomenon' or 'psychic energy'.
Directly translating 'psychic' as サイキック is not common in natural Japanese. Use context-appropriate terms like 霊能者 for a person or 超能力 for abilities.
General term for a person with spiritual or psychic powers, often used for mediums or psychics.
She is a famous psychic.
Literally 'person with supernatural powers', often used in fiction for characters with psychic abilities like telekinesis.
The psychic bent the spoon.
Loanword from 'ESPer', common in pop culture for someone with ESP.
He claims to be a psychic.
Fortune-teller; not exactly 'psychic' but often used in similar contexts. Implies divination rather than general psychic powers.
This specifically means fortune-teller, not a general psychic.
Why don't you consult that psychic?
General term for psychic or supernatural powers.
He can read minds with his psychic powers.
Spiritual sensitivity or sixth sense; often used for psychic intuition or sensing spirits.
She has strong psychic sensitivity.
Loanword directly from English, used in some contexts but less common than native terms.
People with psychic abilities.
Means 'psychological' or 'mental', used in academic or formal contexts.
It's a psychic phenomenon.
Means 'mental' or 'spiritual', can be used for psychic in the sense of mind-related.
I feel a psychic energy.