魔
witch, demon, evil spirit
Readings
On'yomi
- マ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
魔 centers on supernatural malevolence: a witch, demon, or evil spirit that brings harm or temptation.
Most common words using 魔
20 of 167- 魔法まほうN1
magic; witchcraft; sorcery; spell
- 邪魔じゃまN4
hindrance; obstacle; nuisance; disturbance; interruption; interference
- 悪魔あくまN3
devil; demon; fiend
- 魔ま
demon; devil; evil spirit; evil influence
- 魔女まじょ
witch
- 魔術まじゅつN1
magic; sorcery; witchcraft
- 魔王まおう
Satan; the Devil; the Prince of Darkness
- 魔法使いまほうつかい
magician; wizard; sorcerer; witch; mage
- 魔力まりょく
magical powers; supernatural powers; spell; charm
- 魔物まもの
demon; devil; evil spirit; monster; goblin; apparition
- 誤魔化しごまかし
cheating; deception; trickery; manipulation; juggling; falsifying; sham; camouflage; smoke and mirrors; cutting corners
- 魔界まかい
demon world
- 誤魔化すごまかすN1
to deceive; to cheat; to swindle
- 魔神まじん
devil; evil spirit; genie
- 魔境まきょう
demon-infested place
- 魔道まどう
heresy; evil ways; path of evil
- 魔性ましょう
devilish; diabolical
- お邪魔おじゃま
hindrance; intrusion
- 通り魔とおりま
random attacker; slasher
- 閻魔えんま
Yama (King of Hell who judges the dead); Enma
Study
Etymology
魔 combines 麻 (hemp, likely for sound) with 鬼 (demon, spirit) to express a demonic or bewitching force. The phono-semantic structure is clear, though the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
Under a hemp plant 麻, a demon 鬼 lurks, casting spells like a witch.
Reading mnemonic
For マ, imagine a demonic witch casting a spell with a loud 'MA!' sound: MA -> マ.