1.
spirit, elemental spirit
A supernatural being or spirit, especially those associated with nature or the elements. Used in religious, mythological, and fantasy contexts.
森の精霊を信じる。
I believe in forest spirits.
古代の人々は水や火に精霊が宿ると考えていた。
Ancient people believed that spirits dwelled in water and fire.
このゲームでは、精霊の力を借りて戦う。
In this game, you borrow the power of spirits to fight.
2.
spirit of the dead (Obon context)
The soul or spirit of a deceased person, particularly as honored during the Obon festival. In this sense, also read しょうりょう.
精霊流しの行列が続く。
The procession for the spirit boat ceremony continues.
お盆には精霊棚を飾って、先祖の霊を迎える。
During Obon, we set up a spirit altar and welcome the souls of our ancestors.
長崎の精霊流しは、爆竹の音とともに故人の霊を送り出す壮大な行事だ。
Nagasaki's Shōrō Nagashi is a grand ceremony that sends off the spirits of the deceased to the sound of firecrackers.
READING:
The reading changes depending on context. As せいれい, it refers to nature spirits or elemental spirits. As しょうりょう, it refers to the spirits of the dead, particularly in Buddhist and Obon contexts.
USAGE:
In modern usage, せいれい is common in fantasy fiction, games, and discussions of animism or mythology. The しょうりょう reading appears mainly in Obon-related vocabulary.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 精霊崇拝: animism, spirit worship
- 精霊流し: spirit boat procession (Obon)
- 精霊棚: spirit altar (Obon)
- 水の精霊: water spirit
- 森の精霊: forest spirit