Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
幽霊 (ゆうれい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Meanings 1
noun
ghost ; apparition ; phantom
Refers to a spirit of the dead, typically depicted in Japanese folklore as a figure with no feet, often associated with vengeance or unfinished business. Used in both traditional and modern contexts.
This inn is said to be haunted by a ghost.
Written forms 幽ゆう 霊れい Usage 98%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency and widely used.
ユウレイ Usage 2%
Kanji 幽 seclude, confine to a room, deep Similar words お 化ば け お化け is a broader term for monsters, goblins, or any supernatural creature, often used in a more casual or child-friendly way, while 幽霊 specifically refers to the spirit of a dead person.
亡ぼう 霊れい 亡霊 is a more formal or literary term for a spirit of the dead, often used in serious or dramatic contexts, whereas 幽霊 is the common everyday word.
Etymology From Chinese 幽靈 (yōulíng), meaning 'spirit of the dead'. The kanji 幽 means 'dim, secluded' and 霊 means 'spirit, soul'. The reading ゆうれい is the on'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading).
