Details
Description
Demon - the character for sorcery and evil spirits. Dark by intent, used for magic and what preys on people.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of hemp and demon. Hemp-like demon.
Symbolism
Magic, devil, sorcery. Represents magic.
Spiritual Meaning
Personification of worldly desires in Buddhism. "Mara" is the force obstructing practice; "conquering Mara" means the spiritual battle to overcome it.
Component Breakdown
Hemp + ghost
Words & Expressions
Words written with 魔
Four-Character Compounds
寸善尺魔
すんぜんしゃくま
in evil, there is odds; there is more evil than good in this world; one good thing tends to cause many bad things to happen
好事多魔
こうじたま
happy events are often accompanied by difficulties; unsullied joy is rare
Anime & Manga
魔法少女まどか☆マギカ
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Shocking work that subverted the 'magical' girl genre. Known for dark developments.
青の祓魔師
Blue Exorcist
A well-known work with 魔 in its Japanese title.
はたらく魔王さま!
The Devil is a Part-Timer!
A well-known work with 魔 in its Japanese title.
魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants
A well-known work with 魔 in its Japanese title.
魔法科高校の劣等生
The Irregular at Magic High School
A well-known work with 魔 in its Japanese title.
Games
ファイナルファンタジー
Final Fantasy(1987)
Developer: Square Enix
'Magic' is a core series element. Characterized by white magic, black magic, and other magical systems.
View on Amazon →Other kanji with the same meaning
“demon”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 魔 mean in Japanese?
魔 means witch, demon, evil spirit. Demon - the character for sorcery and evil spirits. Dark by intent, used for magic and what preys on people.
How do you read 魔?
On'yomi: マ (MA).
How many strokes does 魔 have?
魔 has 21 strokes. Its radical is 鬼 (ghost).
Is 魔 a good kanji for a tattoo?
魔 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means witch, demon, evil spirit. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:demon