魂(たましい)

たましい
noun
soul; spirit
1. soul; spirit
The spiritual essence of a person believed to survive after death. The non-physical part of a being.
魂(たましい)が抜(ぬ)けたようだ。
It's as if my soul has left my body.
死者(ししゃ)の魂(たましい)を弔(とむら)う。
To mourn the souls of the deceased.
お盆(ぼん)には先祖(せんぞ)の魂(たましい)が帰(かえ)ってくると言(い)われている。
It is said that the souls of ancestors return during Obon.
2. spirit; heart; passion
Strong inner drive, determination, or passionate commitment to something. The core attitude or mindset one brings to an endeavor.
職人(しょくにん)の魂(たましい)がこもった作品(さくひん)だ。
It's a work infused with the craftsman's spirit.
大和魂(やまとだましい)という言葉(ことば)は日本人(にほんじん)の精神(せいしん)を表(あらわ)す。
The term Yamato-damashii represents the Japanese spirit.
彼(かれ)は魂(たましい)を込(こ)めて演奏(えんそう)した。
He played with all his heart and soul.

Can refer to the literal soul of a person (sense 1) or to passionate spirit and determination (sense 2).

Common collocations

Compounds

  • 大和魂(やまとだましい) (Japanese spirit)
  • 闘魂(とうこん) (fighting spirit)
  • 魂胆(こんたん) (ulterior motive)

In compounds, the reading often shifts to だましい (after a vowel) or こん (in on'yomi compounds). Not to be confused with 霊(れい), which refers more specifically to a ghost or supernatural spirit.

Related Words

Compare: 精神(せいしん) (spirit, mind, soul)
general
Added 2026.3.2 18:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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