魑ち魅み魍もう魎りょう

ち

み

も

う

りょ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

evil spirits of rivers and mountains; all kinds of monsters and demons

yojijukugo (four-character idiom)

Refers to a host of malevolent supernatural beings, often used figuratively for a motley crew of villains or troublemakers. The phrase evokes a sense of lurking, shape-shifting threats.

魑ち魅み魍もう魎りょうが跋ばっ扈こする時じ代だいだった。
It was an era when evil spirits ran rampant.
政せい界かいには魑ち魅み魍もう魎りょうがうごめいている。
The political world is crawling with all sorts of shady characters.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

魑mountain spirits
魅fascination, charm, bewitch
魍spirits of mountains and streams
魎spirits of trees and rocks

Related words

妖よう怪かい
妖怪 is a general term for Japanese folkloric monsters and spirits, while 魑魅魍魎 specifically emphasizes a multitude of evil, often shape-shifting, spirits and is more literary.
化ばけ物もの
化物 is a common word for a monster or ghost, often a single entity; 魑魅魍魎 implies a swarm of diverse, sinister beings.

Built from

魑ち魅み+魍もう魎りょう

Etymology

A yojijukugo originating from Chinese folklore. 魑魅 (chimi) are mountain spirits, and 魍魎 (mōryō) are water spirits; together they denote all manner of harmful supernatural beings. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase has been used in Japanese literature for centuries.