Kanji 幽 seclude, confine to a room, deep Related words· 10 お化け is a broad, casual word for any monster or supernatural being, while 幽霊 specifically means the ghost of a dead person.
亡霊 is a more formal or literary word for the spirit of the dead, whereas 幽霊 is the everyday term for a ghost.
幽霊 specifically means the ghost of a dead person, while 妖怪 covers a much wider range of supernatural beings not tied to death.
幽霊 is the traditional Japanese word for a ghost, often with a specific human form or grudge, while ゴースト is a Western-style loanword used more broadly for ghosts or technical 'ghosting' effects.
Show 6 more Show fewer 幽霊 is the native Japanese word for a ghost or spirit, while ファントム is a loanword often used for a more mysterious or Western-style apparition.
幽霊 is a general word for a ghost or apparition, while 悪霊 specifically implies the spirit is malicious or harmful.
幽霊 means a visible ghost or apparition, whereas 霊 is the broader, more abstract term for spirit or soul.
幽霊 is the ghost or spirit of a specific dead person, while 死神 is a supernatural being that causes or personifies death itself.
幽霊 specifically means a visible ghost or apparition, whereas 心霊 is a broader term covering ghostly or psychic phenomena in general.
幽霊 specifically means the ghost of a dead person, while 化け物 covers any monstrous or transformed creature, not just spirits of the dead.
Don't confuse with 妖怪 refers to a supernatural monster or spirit from folklore that was never human, while 幽霊 is specifically the ghost of a deceased person.
幽霊 specifically means the ghost or spirit of a dead person, while 幻 covers any phantom, mirage, or illusion, not just ghosts.
幽霊 shares the kanji 霊 and refers to a ghost or apparition in general, while 英霊 specifically and respectfully denotes the spirit of a war dead soldier.
Word family· 14 Show 5 more Show fewer ghost population; fictitious population
bogus company; paper company
haunted house
ghost character; phantom kanji
ghost fishing
See all 14 in Explore →
Written forms 幽ゆう 霊れい Usage 98%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency and widely used.
ユウレイ Usage 2%
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).
Report an issue with this page
Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
