← Back

鬼

ghost
Stroke count: 10

Readings

On readingキ
Kun readingおに、おに-
JLPT level: N1JōyōGrade 8

Meanings

  1. ghostRtK
  2. devil
  1. oni
  2. spirit of a deceased person
  3. ogre-like person (i.e. fierce, relentless, merciless, etc.)

Synonyms

超鬼ごっこ

Radicals and components

Radical鬼ghost
Components
How it's built
鬼
    • →
    • →
  • →
    • →
      • →
  • →

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

oni · drop (丶) · brains · rice field (田) · human legs (儿) · elbow

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 2175

Compound words

鬼才きさい
wizard; genius; remarkable talent; exceptional ability
鬼神きしん
fierce god
吸血鬼きゅうけつき
vampire; bloodsucker
鬼ごっこおにごっこ
tag (children's game); tig
悪鬼あっき
evil spirit
餓鬼がき
brat
鬼火おにび
will-o'-the-wisp
鬼女きじょ
demoness
鬼畜きちく
brute
鬼哭きこく
wailings of a restless ghost
邪鬼じゃき
devil
幽鬼ゆうき
ghost
悪餓鬼わるがき
brat
餓鬼道がきどう
hungry ghost (preta) realm
鬼宿日きしゅくにち
"day of the ghost" (an extremely auspicious day on the lunar calendar for everything but weddings)
餓鬼大将がきだいしょう
leader of the pack (of a group of kids)
鬼の霍乱おにのかくらん
person of strong constitution unexpectedly falling ill
鬼坊主鱚おにぼうずぎす
black swallower (Chiasmodon niger)
鬼理死丹キリシタン
Christianity (in feudal Japan)
鬼哭啾々きこくしゅうしゅう
spine-chilling (like the wailing and weeping of a restless ghost)
鬼哭啾啾きこくしゅうしゅう
spine-chilling (like the wailing and weeping of a restless ghost)
神出鬼没しんしゅつきぼつ
appearing in unexpected places and at unexpected moments
天之邪鬼あまのじゃく
perversity

Additional Examples

彼は心を鬼にして同情心を押さえた。
He steeled himself against compassion.tatoeba
彼は仕事の鬼だ。
He is an eager beaver.tatoeba
彼は、だまされてばかりいて、疑心暗鬼になっている。
He has a lot of fear and doubt because people are always fooling him.tatoeba
渡る世間に鬼はなし。
There is kindness to be found everywhere.tatoeba

Stroke Order

10 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 鬼

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step