祓(はら)う

はらう
godan verb
to exorcise, to purify ritually
1. to exorcise, to purify, to cleanse of evil spirits
To perform a ritual purification to drive away evil spirits, impurities, or bad luck. Primarily associated with Shinto practices and traditional Japanese beliefs.
悪霊(あくりょう)を祓(はら)う。
To exorcise an evil spirit.
神主(かんぬし)が穢(けが)れを祓(はら)う儀式(ぎしき)を行(おこな)った。
The Shinto priest performed a purification ritual to cleanse the impurity.
新年(しんねん)に神社(じんじゃ)で厄(やく)を祓(はら)ってもらい、一年(いちねん)の無事(ぶじ)を祈(いの)った。
At the new year, I had bad luck exorcised at the shrine and prayed for a safe year.

CONJUGATION:

Godan verb (五段動詞(ごだんどうし)), う-ending.

  • Negative: 祓(はら)わない
  • Polite: 祓(はら)います
  • Te-form: 祓(はら)って
  • Past: 祓(はら)った

USAGE:
Distinct from the homophone 払(はら)う (to pay; to sweep away). 祓(はら)う is specifically religious/ritual purification. The related noun 祓(はら)い or お祓(はら)い refers to the purification ceremony itself.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 悪霊(あくりょう)を祓(はら)う: to exorcise evil spirits
  • 穢(けが)れを祓(はら)う: to cleanse impurity
  • 厄(やく)を祓(はら)う: to ward off bad luck
  • お祓(はら)いを受(う)ける: to receive a purification ceremony

Related Words

Contrast: 払(はら)う (to pay; to sweep away (different kanji))
general
Added 2026.2.27 15:30
13500/13897_harau