鬼(おに)ごっこ

おにごっこ
noun
tag (game)
leisure
1. tag (game)
A children's game where one player (the 'oni' or 'it') chases the others and tries to touch them. When tagged, that person becomes the new 'oni'.
子供(こども)たちが公園(こうえん)で鬼(おに)ごっこをしている。
The children are playing tag in the park.
鬼(おに)ごっこで鬼(おに)になった。
I became 'it' in tag.
小学生(しょうがくせい)の頃(ころ)、よく鬼(おに)ごっこで遊(あそ)んだ。
When I was in elementary school, I often played tag.

鬼(おに)ごっこ is the Japanese name for the game of tag.

Cultural note

1. One person is chosen as the 鬼(おに) ("demon/it")
2. The 鬼(おに) counts while others hide or scatter
3. The 鬼(おに) chases and tries to touch (タッチする) others
4. The person touched becomes the new 鬼(おに)

Forms

  • 氷(こおり)鬼(おに) (freeze tag)
  • 高(たか)鬼(おに) (safe when on high ground)
  • 色(いろ)鬼(おに) (safe when touching a specified color)

Etymology

鬼(おに) (demon/ogre) + ごっこ (play-acting suffix). The name comes from the chaser playing the role of a demon.

Related words

Related Words

Related: かくれんぼ (hide and seek)
Related: 缶(かん)蹴(け)り (kick the can)
Compare: 追(お)いかけっこ (game of tag)
general
Added 2026.1.17 18:45 · Revised 2026.10.7 9:23
06000/06321_onigokko