Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
祓う (はらう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
godan verb (-u), transitive verb
exorcise ; purify ; cleanse ritually
Refers to Shinto or spiritual purification, driving away evil spirits, misfortune, or impurity through ritual acts. Often used in religious or ceremonial contexts.
を
祓はら
う
ため
に
神じん
社じゃ
へ
行い
っ
た
。
I went to the shrine to ward off bad luck.
Similar words 清きよ める 清める is a more general term for physical or spiritual cleansing, while 祓う specifically implies ritual exorcism or Shinto purification.
払はら う 払う means 'to pay' or 'to brush away' and is a common homophone. 祓う is exclusively for ritual purification and uses a different kanji.
Etymology The kanji 祓 is composed of 示 (altar, deity) and 犮 (phonetic component suggesting removal), indicating a ritual act of removing impurity. The reading はらう is native Japanese and related to the idea of sweeping away or clearing out, as seen in 払う.
