鬼(おに)

おに
noun
demon, ogre, oni
culture
1. demon, ogre
A supernatural creature in Japanese folklore.
鬼(おに)ごっこをする。
To play tag.
鬼(おに)が出(で)てくる話(はなし)を読(よ)んだ。
I read a story where demons appear.
桃太郎(ももたろう)が鬼(おに)を退治(たいじ)した。
Momotaro defeated the demons.
節分(せつぶん)には豆(まめ)をまいて鬼(おに)を追(お)い払(はら)う。
During Setsubun, we scatter beans to drive away demons.
子(こ)どもの頃(ころ)、鬼(おに)が出(で)てくる話(はなし)が怖(こわ)くて、夜(よる)一人(ひとり)で寝(ね)られなかった。
When I was a child, stories about demons were so scary that I couldn't sleep alone at night.
2. fierce person
Someone who is very strict or scary.
仕事(しごと)の鬼(おに)だ。
A demon for work (a workaholic).
鬼(おに)のような先生(せんせい)だ。
The teacher is very strict.
心(こころ)を鬼(おに)にして、厳(きび)しいことを言(い)った。
I steeled myself and said something harsh.
あの監督(かんとく)は練習(れんしゅう)の鬼(おに)で、毎日(まいにち)厳(きび)しく指導(しどう)する。
That coach is a demon for practice and gives harsh instruction every day.
彼(かれ)は仕事(しごと)の鬼(おに)と呼(よ)ばれていて、休(やす)みの日(ひ)も会社(かいしゃ)に来(く)ることがある。
He is called a workaholic and sometimes comes to the office even on his days off.

鬼(おに) refers to Japanese demons.

CULTURAL NOTE (folklore):
Oni are typically depicted with horns, wild hair, and carrying iron clubs.

Common expressions

CULTURAL NOTE (Setsubun):
During Setsubun, people throw 豆(まめ) to drive away 鬼(おに).

Related Words

Compare: 悪魔(あくま) (devil, demon, evil spirit)
Compare: 夜叉(やしゃ) (yaksha, demon, fierce person)
Related: 豆(まめ)まき (bean-throwing (Setsubun ritual))
Compare: 魔(ま) (demon)
Compare: 羅刹(らせつ) (rakshasa)
core
Added 2026.1.9 21:56 · Revised 2026.10.9 21:55
02000/02184_oni