Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'rain' (雨) with 'shaman' (巫), representing priestesses with divine power to bring rain. Means soul and spirit.
Symbolism
Symbolizes soul, spirit, and mystery. Represents existence beyond the physical body and invisible sacred power.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents invisible spiritual beings, encompassing divine spirits to vengeful ghosts. Foundation of Japanese belief systems.
Component Breakdown
rain + one + 亚
Words & Expressions
Words written with 霊
Four-Character Compounds
全身全霊
ぜんしんぜんれい
complete devotion; body and soul; one's best
霊肉一致
れいにくいっち
unity of body and spirit
霊魂不滅
れいこんふめつ
immortality of the soul
心霊現象
しんれいげんしょう
psychic phenomenon
頑冥不霊
がんめいふれい
stubborn and ignorant
Anime & Manga
精霊幻想記
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles
A well-known work with 霊 in its Japanese title.
ねじ巻き精霊戦記 天鏡のアルデラミン
Alderamin on the Sky
A well-known work with 霊 in its Japanese title.
精霊使いの剣舞【ブレイドダンス】
Blade Dance of the Elementalers
A well-known work with 霊 in its Japanese title.
精霊幻想記2
Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles Season 2
A well-known work with 霊 in its Japanese title.
嘆きの亡霊は引退したい
Let This Grieving Soul Retire
A well-known work with 霊 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
霊元天皇
Name contains 霊
Emperor Reigen , personal name Satohito , was the 112th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 霊 mean in Japanese?
霊 means spirits, soul.
How do you read 霊?
On'yomi: レイ、リョウ (REI, RYOU). Kun'yomi: たま (tama).
How many strokes does 霊 have?
霊 has 15 strokes. Its radical is 雨 (rain).
Is 霊 a good kanji for a tattoo?
霊 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means spirits, soul. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:soul