妖
attractive · bewitching · calamity
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'woman' (女) with 'young/strange' (夭), depicting the mysterious charm of young women or supernatural beings.
Symbolism
Symbolizes bewitching beauty, mystery, and supernatural existence. Represents alluring charm and otherworldly creatures.
Spiritual Meaning
Mysterious beings in Shinto and folk belief. "Yōkai" personify nature's mysteries and are objects of reverence.
Component Breakdown
Woman + young
Words & Expressions
Words written with 妖
Four-Character Compounds
妖怪変化
ようかいへんげ
monstrous apparition; terrifying creature; incomprehensible horror
狐狸妖怪
こりようかい
tricksters; deceivers; fey creatures
Anime & Manga
妖狐×僕SS
Inu X Boku Secret Service
A well-known work with 妖 in its Japanese title.
妖神记
Tales of Demons and Gods
A well-known work with 妖 in its Japanese title.
戦国妖狐
Sengoku Youko
A well-known work with 妖 in its Japanese title.
最強陰陽師の異世界転生記 ～下僕の妖怪どもに比べてモンスターが弱すぎるんだが～
The Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist In Another World
A well-known work with 妖 in its Japanese title.
妖怪少女 －モンスガ－
Yokai Girls
A well-known work with 妖 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“calamity”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 妖 mean in Japanese?
妖 means attractive, bewitching, calamity.
How do you read 妖?
On'yomi: ヨウ (YOU). Kun'yomi: あや.しい、なま.めく、わざわ.い (ayashii, namameku, wazawai).
How many strokes does 妖 have?
妖 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 女 (woman).
Is 妖 a good kanji for a tattoo?
妖 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means attractive, bewitching, calamity. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:calamity