charm; incantation; spell; magic formula
Refers to a magical incantation or spell, often in fantasy or occult contexts. Can be used for both spoken charms and written magical formulas.
魔法使いは禁呪を唱えて敵を封印した。
The wizard chanted a spell and sealed the enemy.
A powerful magic formula was written in that ancient manuscript.
A Sino-Japanese term for ritual incantations, formed from 禁 in its magical sense of restraining or warding off and 呪 “spell; incantation.”