Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

幽霊会社 (yuureigaisha) Japanese meaning: bogus company | Kotomora

幽ゆう霊れい会がい社しゃ

ゆ

う

れ

い

が

い

しゃ

Meanings

1

bogus company; paper company

A company that exists only on paper, often for fraudulent purposes such as tax evasion or money laundering. The term literally means 'ghost company'.

その幽ゆう霊れい会がい社しゃは実じっ体たいがなく、書しょ類るい上じょうだけの存そん在ざい

だっ

た

。

That bogus company had no substance and existed only on paper.

Kanji

幽seclude, confine to a room, deep
霊spirits, soul
会meeting, meet, party
社company, firm, office

Related words

ペーパーカンパニー
A direct loanword from English 'paper company', often used interchangeably with 幽霊会社, but 幽霊会社 carries a stronger nuance of being ghost-like or fraudulent.
ダミー会社がいしゃ
A dummy company, often used as a front or shell company. Similar to 幽霊会社 but may imply a more active role in concealing true ownership or transactions.

Built from

幽ゆう霊れい+会かい社しゃ

Etymology

Compound of 幽霊 (ghost) and 会社 (company), literally 'ghost company'. The term is a native Japanese coinage using existing words to describe a company that exists only on paper.