Usage patterns 魔ま に 取と りつかれる to be possessed by an evil spirit; to fall under a demonic influence
He suddenly went berserk as if possessed by an evil spirit.
〈 物もの 〉 魔ま a person obsessed or crazed with (doing) something; a ...-fiend
He was arrested as a serial arsonist.
魔ま の 〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 the deadly/treacherous ~ (a place notorious for danger or misfortune)
This road has so many accidents that it's called 'the cursed road.'
魔ま の 〈 時とき 〉 the dreaded ~ (a time known for trouble or danger)
Late-night highways are said to be a dreaded time for accidents.
Expressions· 16 お 邪じゃ 魔ま します sorry to bother you; please excuse the intrusion 魔ま の 手て evil influence; clutches of evil 好こう 事じ 多た 磨ま good things are often accompanied by hardship; joy rarely comes without trouble 寸すん 善ぜん 尺しゃく 魔ま evil outweighs good; one good thing brings many bad things Show 4 more Show fewer 魔ま が 差さ す be possessed by an evil spirit; be tempted; give in to an urge 好こう 事じ 魔ま 多おお し good things are often followed by trouble; joy and sorrow go together See all 16 in Explore →
Kanji 魔 witch, demon, evil spirit Related words 悪魔 refers to a concrete devil or demon figure, while 魔 is broader and can mean an abstract evil influence or a suffix for an obsessed person.
悪霊 specifically means a malevolent spirit or ghost haunting someone, whereas 魔 is a more general term for evil beings or influences.
鬼 is a concrete ogre-like demon from Japanese folklore with a fixed appearance, while 魔 is a vaguer, more abstract evil spirit or force.
Word family· 83 magic; sorcery; spell
hindrance; obstacle; nuisance; disturbance; interruption; interference · visit (someone's home) · demon who hinders Buddhist training
devil; demon; fiend · Satan; the Devil · Māra; evil forces hindering enlightenment
witch; sorceress
magic; sorcery; witchcraft · magic tricks (large-scale)
Show 25 more Show fewer magical power; supernatural power; spell; charm
demon; monster; evil spirit
demon world; realm of demons
devil; evil spirit; genie
demon-infested place; haunted area · ominous place; mysterious unfrequented area · den of iniquity; hotbed of vice
heresy; evil ways; path of evil · sorcery; black magic · netherworld; realm of evil spirits
devilish; diabolical; bewitching
hindrance; intrusion; disturbance
random attacker; slasher; street assailant · passing demon; demon that brings misfortune to passersby
ghost; monster; demon; phantom; apparition
sleepiness; drowsiness · the sandman; Morpheus
one's last moments; death throes; hour of death
incubus; succubus; dream demon
exorcism
heavenly demon; Māra
heavy snowfall; white devil
demon of ill health; disease
den of vice; rogue's den · brothel; red-light district · cluttered room; messy den
nightmare · incubus; succubus; dream demon
miracle ball; magic ball
charm against evil; talisman; amulet
conquering the devil; subduing demons
evil influence; clutches of evil
den of demons; hotbed of corruption; pandemonium
sex maniac; seducer; libertine
See all 83 in Explore →
Written forms 魔ま Usage 99%
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
ま Usage 1%
Etymology The kanji 魔 is a phono-semantic compound, with 鬼 (demon) as the semantic component and 麻 (hemp) as the phonetic. The reading ま is the on'yomi. The word has been used in Japanese for centuries to refer to evil spirits and influences, and later extended to obsessive behavior.
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