Translation guide
The English word "spirit" covers many meanings, from inner energy and mood to supernatural beings and alcohol. This guide breaks down the most useful Japanese expressions for each sense, organized by what you want to say.
Expressing a person's emotional state, vigor, or motivation.
The most common word for energy, vitality, or good spirits. Used in greetings and to describe a person's state.
Willpower, mental energy, or drive. Used when talking about the inner strength to do something.
Enthusiasm, eagerness, or fighting spirit. Often used for someone's positive attitude toward a task.
Morale, especially in a group, team, or military context.
Referring to the non-physical part of a person, the core of one's being.
Mind, spirit, or psyche. The most direct equivalent for the human spirit in a psychological or philosophical sense.
Talking about spirits of the dead, ghosts, or otherworldly entities.
Spirit, ghost, soul of the dead. The standard term for a spirit in a supernatural sense.
Referring to distilled alcoholic drinks like whiskey, vodka, etc.
Describing a collective mindset or ethos.
Referring to the breath as the animating principle, often in fixed phrases.
Breath, life force. Poetic word for the vital spirit, often used metaphorically.
English uses 'spirit' in many idioms. For example, 'in good spirits' is 元気で, not 良い霊で. Always think about the intended meaning first.
精神 (seishin) is mind/spirit in a psychological sense. 魂 (tamashii) is the immortal soul. 心 (kokoro) is heart/mind/emotions. Choose based on nuance: mental strength → 精神, eternal soul → 魂, emotional core → 心.
My spirits lifted. / I felt a surge of energy.
彼の意気込みが感じられる。
You can feel his enthusiasm.
The team's morale is high.
Soul, spirit. Often used in religious or poetic contexts, or when talking about the immortal essence.
a soul-stirring experience
Heart, mind, spirit. A very common word that covers emotions and inner self. Can be used for spirit in a broad sense.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
彼は霊が見えると言う。
He says he can see spirits.
Ghost, apparition. Specifically a visible spirit of a dead person, often with a tragic backstory.
They say that mansion is haunted.
Spirit, fairy, elemental. Refers to nature spirits or mythical beings, not human ghosts.
spirit of the forest
Distilled liquor. The technical term for spirits as a category of alcohol.
Whiskey is a type of spirit.
Loanword from English, used in bars and menus for spirits/liquor.
What kinds of spirits do you have?
Alcohol in general, but can be used to refer to spirits in context.
I like strong spirits.
Used in compounds to express a particular spirit or ethos, e.g., チーム精神 (team spirit), 武士精神 (samurai spirit).
Let's value team spirit.
Ethos, spirit, or character of a group or place. Often used for school spirit or corporate culture.
This school has a free spirit.
Feel the spirit of spring.