付つく喪も神がみ

つ

く

も

が

み

Meanings

artifact spirit; tsukumogami

In Japanese folk belief, a spirit that inhabits an object after it reaches 100 years of age. Often used in stories about old household items gaining sentience.

付つく喪も神がみは、百ひゃく年ねん経たった道どう具ぐに宿やどると言いわれている。
Tsukumogami are said to dwell in tools that have reached a hundred years of age.
この古ふるい傘かさも、もしかしたら付つく喪も神がみになるかもしれない。
This old umbrella might also become a tsukumogami someday.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

付adhere, attach, refer to
喪miss, mourning
神gods, mind, soul
九nine
十ten

Related words

妖よう怪かい
妖怪 is a broader term for supernatural monsters and spirits, while 付喪神 specifically refers to spirits born from old objects.
物ものの怪け
物の怪 is a general term for vengeful or possessing spirits, often associated with illness or misfortune, whereas 付喪神 are more neutral or mischievous object spirits.

Written forms

付つく喪も神がみ
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Standard ateji spelling; the most recognized written form.
つくも神がみ
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common but still used.
九十九つくも神がみ
Alternate kanji spelling using 九十九 (ninety-nine) to suggest a long lifespan; rarely used.

Etymology

The spelling 付喪神 uses 付喪 for つくも, an old expression associated with 九十九 “ninety-nine” and great age; 神 denotes the spirit believed to inhabit a long-used object.