妖
attractive, bewitching, calamity
Readings
On'yomi
- ヨウ
Kun'yomi
- あや.しい
- なま.めく
- わざわ.い
Meaning
妖 centers on a dangerous, supernatural allure: something bewitchingly attractive that can also bring calamity or misfortune.
Most common words using 妖
20 of 38- 妖怪ようかい
ghost; apparition; phantom; spectre; specter; demon; monster; goblin; yōkai
- 妖精ようせい
fairy; sprite; elf
- 妖艶ようえん
fascinating; voluptuous; bewitching; captivating
- 妖しいあやしい
mysterious; bewitching; alluring; enticing; enchanting
- 妖魔ようま
ghost; monster; demon; phantom; apparition
- 妖狐ようこ
fox with supernatural powers; fox spirit
- 妖刀ようとう
bewitched sword; magical sword; demon sword
- 妖術ようじゅつ
(black) magic; witchcraft; sorcery
- 妖気ようき
ominous atmosphere; ghostly air; weird air; unearthly atmosphere
- 妖女ようじょ
enchantress; vamp
- 大妖たいよう
great demon; ghostly giant
- 妖力ようりょく
spirit power; magical power
- 妖姫ようき
ghostly, beautiful woman
- 妖婆ようば
hag; old witch
- 妖婦ようふ
enchantress; seductress; vamp; siren
- 妖怪変化ようかいへんげ
monstrous apparition; terrifying creature; incomprehensible horror
- 妖怪道中記ようかいどうちゅうき
Yokai Dochuki (video game)
- 妖氛ようふん
ominous air; weird air; menacing atmosphere
- 妖物ようぶつ
ghost; apparition
- 妖獣ようじゅう
monster; demon; magical beast
Study
Etymology
妖 combines 女 (woman) with 夭, which likely contributes both sound and the idea of something delicate, young, or prematurely cut off, together suggesting a bewitching, calamitous feminine force.
Meaning mnemonic
A woman 女 beside 夭, which looks like a twisted, delicate sprout: imagine a dangerously attractive enchantress whose beauty brings disaster.
Reading mnemonic
For ヨウ, picture a bewitching yōkai (妖怪) spirit: yō -> ヨウ, and the woman-like spirit lures you into calamity.