迷信(めいしん)

めいしん
noun
superstition
culturereligion
1. superstition
A belief or practice based on irrational fear or faith in supernatural forces, rather than reason or knowledge.
それは迷信(めいしん)だ。
That's a superstition.
迷信(めいしん)を信(しん)じる人(ひと)もいる。
Some people believe in superstitions.
黒猫(くろねこ)が不吉(ふきつ)だというのは迷信(めいしん)に過(す)ぎない。
The idea that black cats are unlucky is just a superstition.

迷信(めいしん) refers to beliefs that are not based on reason or scientific knowledge.

Common collocations

Cultural note

  • Common Japanese superstitions include the number 4 (四(し), sounds like 死(し) 'death') and breaking chopsticks

Related Words

Related: 迷(まよ)う (to be lost, to hesitate)
Compare: 俗説(ぞくせつ) (popular belief)
general
Added 2026.2.1 11:40 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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