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ghost

Japanese translation: 幽霊 (yuurei)

11:03 Apr 27, 2004
English to Japanese translations [Non-PRO]
Other
English term or phrase: ghost
I'm looking for a word that means "ghost" or "spirit". Basically, an other-worldly incorporeal entity.
Felicia
Japanese translation:幽霊 (yuurei)
Explanation:
Spirit can be 霊 (rei).
Selected response from:

Mariko Kobayashi
Australia
Local time: 17:56
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4幽霊 (yuurei)
Mariko Kobayashi
5精霊
humbird
4 +1お化け・化け物
Troy Fowler
3霊魂
Hiromasa Funaki


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
幽霊 (yuurei)


Explanation:
Spirit can be 霊 (rei).

Mariko Kobayashi
Australia
Local time: 17:56
Native speaker of: Japanese
Grading comment
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kurt Hammond: This is most common for simply"ghost"
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  Mumu Watanabe (X)
9 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Minoru Kuwahara: "Haunted Mansion" at TDL would be called "幽霊館" if translated. Semantically, traditional "お化け屋敷" maybe. -
19 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Andreas Yan
4 days
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
霊魂


Explanation:
Spiritual entity is translated into "霊魂" (reikon).


Hiromasa Funaki
Japan
Local time: 16:56
Native speaker of: Japanese
PRO pts in category: 4
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
精霊


Explanation:
Pronounciation is "sei-rei". If you are looking for other worldly entity, this should be your choice. Reason as follows: The "sei", the first Kanji stands for "spirit", the latter "ghost". The two answers already suggested only connote the latter part "ghost", and that may not be so accurate as they are for the dead spirit who cannot go Heaven or Paradise (as expressed in general religious belief). On the other hand, "sei-rei" is "spirit" as a whole whether they (supposedly) resides in the living person, dead person, happy or unhappy persons. This word is used in Bible translation for "Holy Ghost" as well.

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Mariko Kobayashi: "Holy Ghost" is usually written as 聖霊.
6 hrs
neutral  Minoru Kuwahara: i noticed that in japanese the distinction between "精霊" and "聖霊" tends to be ambigous. for "ghost", i would choose "幽霊", while what is the reason why they call 聖霊 "ghost" besides "spirit"? -
15 hrs
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1 day 16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
お化け・化け物


Explanation:
I would add お化け (Obake) to the list. In my opinion, お化け is used a bit more regularly in everyday speech than 幽霊 to refer to ghosts.　　
お化け is more like "ghost" "ghoul" or "goblin" whereas 幽霊 is more like "haunted spirit" or "phantom."

Troy Fowler
United States
Local time: 00:56
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Minoru Kuwahara: right, very colloquial and familiar way of referring to ghost. i rememer お化け屋敷 at various locations. see my comment above. (tnx). 化け物 would be more of a theatrical expression, i feel. -
10 hrs
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