異い類るい異い形ぎょう

Meanings

strange-looking creatures; spirits and goblins

A yojijukugo referring to bizarre, otherworldly beings, often in folklore or fantasy contexts. Not an everyday word; used in literary or descriptive writing.

昔むかし話ばなしには異い類るい異い形ぎょうの者ものたちがよく登とう場じょうする。
Strange-looking creatures often appear in old tales.

Kanji

異uncommon, different, queerness
類sort, kind, variety
形shape, form, style

Related words

妖よう怪かい
妖怪 is the common word for Japanese monsters and spirits, while 異類異形 is a more literary, four-character compound emphasizing bizarre appearance.
魑ち魅み魍もう魎りょう
Both are yojijukugo for strange beings, but 魑魅魍魎 specifically refers to harmful spirits of mountains and rivers, whereas 異類異形 is broader.

Built from

異い類るい+異い形ぎょう

Etymology

A yojijukugo composed of 異 (different, strange), 類 (kind, type), 異 (different, strange), and 形 (shape, form). Literally 'different kind, different shape,' it describes beings that are unlike ordinary humans or animals. The exact origin is uncertain, but it follows a common pattern of four-character compounds in classical Chinese and Japanese.