憑依(ひょうい)

ひょうい
noun, suru verb
possession (by a spirit)
1. spirit possession, possession by a spirit
The state of being possessed or inhabited by a supernatural entity such as a spirit, ghost, or deity. The spirit takes control of or strongly influences the person's body or mind.
霊(れい)が憑依(ひょうい)している。
A spirit is possessing (the person).
悪霊(あくりょう)に憑依(ひょうい)された女性(じょせい)を祓(はら)う儀式(ぎしき)が行(おこな)われた。
A ritual was performed to exorcise the woman possessed by an evil spirit.
その映画(えいが)では、古(ふる)い人形(にんぎょう)に亡霊(ぼうれい)が憑依(ひょうい)し、次々(つぎつぎ)と怪異(かいい)が起(お)こる。
In the movie, a ghost possesses an old doll, and supernatural events occur one after another.

GRAMMAR:
Used as a する verb. The spirit is the subject: 霊(れい)が憑依(ひょうい)する. The possessed person is marked with に: 人(ひと)に憑依(ひょうい)する. The passive form 憑依(ひょうい)される (to be possessed) is common.

USAGE:
A somewhat formal or literary term. In everyday speech, 取(と)り憑(つ)く (to possess, to haunt) is more common. 憑依(ひょうい) is preferred in written contexts, horror fiction, religious discussions, and anthropological descriptions of spirit possession rituals.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 霊(れい)が憑依(ひょうい)する: a spirit possesses
  • 悪霊(あくりょう)に憑依(ひょうい)される: to be possessed by an evil spirit
  • 憑依(ひょうい)現象(げんしょう): possession phenomenon
  • 憑依(ひょうい)体質(たいしつ): disposition prone to spirit possession
general
Added 2026.2.24 21:51
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