expression, noun
ghost story; spooky tale
A story about ghosts, monsters, or supernatural happenings, often told to entertain or frighten. Similar to 怪談 (kaidan) but with a slightly more casual, child-friendly feel.
See also: 怪談
子供たちはお化けの話を聞くのが大好きだ。
Children love listening to ghost stories.
夏になると、お化けの話で盛り上がる。
In summer, we get excited telling spooky tales.
怪談 is a more formal or traditional term for ghost stories, often associated with classic Japanese horror tales. お化けの話 is more casual and can include any spooky story, not necessarily traditional.
Compound of お化け (obake, 'ghost, monster') + の (possessive particle) + 話 (hanashi, 'story'). The word お化け itself derives from 化ける (bakeru, 'to transform, take the form of'), referring to supernatural beings that change shape.