おばけ

おばけ
noun
ghost, monster
1. ghost, monster, spook
A general term for ghosts, monsters, or supernatural creatures. Very commonly used with children and in casual speech. Can refer to traditional Japanese spirits or any scary supernatural being.
おばけが出(で)る！
A ghost will appear!
おばけなんていない。
There's no such thing as ghosts.
子供(こども)たちはおばけの話(はなし)を聞(き)いて怖(こわ)がった。
The children got scared listening to the ghost story.

KANJI: Can be written as お化(おば)け or 御化(おば)け, but hiragana is most common, especially in children's contexts.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • おばけが出(で)る (a ghost appears)
  • おばけ屋敷(やしき) (haunted house)
  • おばけの話(はなし) / おばけ話(ばなし) (ghost story)

RELATED WORDS: 幽霊(ゆうれい) (ghost of a dead person), 妖怪(ようかい) (traditional Japanese monster/spirit), 化(ば)け物(もの) (monster, creature).

general
Added 2026.1.31 13:25
09000/09086_obake