Demon in Japanese
"demon" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
魔
ma
2 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "demon". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
鬼 is the oni of Japanese folklore: horned, club-carrying, sometimes an ogre and sometimes a vengeful spirit. It is not the Christian devil. 魔 is the abstract one — the demonic as a force, the thing in 悪魔 (devil) and 魔法 (magic).
Top pick
demon, oni, ogre
Reading: ki
10 strokes · dark, powerful, mysterious
Where it comes from
Spirit of the dead with horns. Ghost or evil spirit.
What it carries
Evil spirit, fear, supernatural. Related to Japanese yokai culture and Setsubun exorcism.
Related kanji for "demon"
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for demon?
The most common kanji for "demon" is 鬼, read as ki. It means demon, oni, ogre. Related kanji: 魔 (demon).
How many strokes does 鬼 have?
鬼 has 10 strokes.