Details
Description
Demon/Ogre - supernatural beings in Japanese folklore, can represent inner strength.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Spirit of the dead with horns. Ghost or evil spirit.
Symbolism
Evil spirit, fear, supernatural. Related to Japanese yokai culture and Setsubun exorcism.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents fearsome spiritual beings, objects of awe and fear in Japanese spiritual culture. Symbol of Setsubun exorcism.
Component Breakdown
Head + legs + private
Words & Expressions
Words written with 鬼
Four-Character Compounds
疑心暗鬼
ぎしんあんき
suspicion will raise bogies; once you suspect something, everything else will look suspicious; jumping at shadows
神出鬼没
しんしゅつきぼつ
appearing in unexpected places and at unexpected moments; elusive; phantom
百鬼夜行
ひゃっきやぎょう
nightly procession of monsters, spirits, etc.; veritable pandemonium; large number of people plotting and doing evil
鬼哭啾啾
きこくしゅうしゅう
spine-chilling (like the wailing and weeping of a restless ghost); hair-raising
鬼面仏心
きめんぶっしん
having the face of a devil and the heart of Buddha; having a stern face but a tender heart
牛鬼蛇神
ぎゅうきだしん
wicked and perverse; weird and incoherent
神算鬼謀
しんさんきぼう
inscrutable stratagem; ingenious scheme
鬼手仏心
きしゅぶっしん
compassionate ruthlessness; merciless scalpel of a merciful surgeon; a demon's hand and a Buddha's heart
鬼に金棒
おににかなぼう
An oni with an iron club; Making something already strong even stronger; unstoppable
Proverbs & Idioms
鬼の目にも涙
おにのめにもなみだ
Even an oni's eyes have tears
Even the harshest person can be moved to compassion
心を鬼にする
こころをおににする
To make one's heart an oni
To steel oneself; to be deliberately harsh for someone's good
Anime & Manga
鬼滅の刃
Demon Slayer
Cultural phenomenon exploring the boundary between human and demon, and family bonds
うしおととら
Ushio and Tora
Depicts alliance with yokai and oni
地獄先生ぬ〜べ〜
Hell Teacher Nube
A teacher with an oni hand fights supernatural beings
劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編 第一章 猗窩座再来
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
A well-known work with 鬼 in its Japanese title.
屍鬼
Shiki
A well-known work with 鬼 in its Japanese title.
Games
鬼武者
Onimusha
Action game fighting demons with oni power in Sengoku era
View on Amazon →大神
Okami
Action game based on Japanese mythology, defeating yokai and oni
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
Other kanji with the same meaning
“demon”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 鬼 mean in Japanese?
鬼 means demon, oni, ogre. Demon/Ogre - supernatural beings in Japanese folklore, can represent inner strength.
How do you read 鬼?
On'yomi: キ (KI). Kun'yomi: おに、おに- (oni, oni).
How many strokes does 鬼 have?
鬼 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 鬼 (ghost).
Is 鬼 a good kanji for a tattoo?
鬼 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means demon, oni, ogre. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.