凶(きょう)

きょう

noun

bad luck; misfortune; ill omen

1. bad luck; misfortune; ill omen

An unfavorable fortune or outcome. Most commonly encountered on omikuji fortune slips, where it indicates bad luck. Also used more broadly to mean something ominous or inauspicious.

おみくじで凶(きょう)が出(で)た。

I got bad luck on my omikuji.

凶(きょう)を引(ひ)いたので、木(き)に結(むす)んできた。

I drew bad luck, so I tied it to a tree.

凶(きょう)が出(で)ても気(き)にしない人(ひと)もいれば、もう一度(いちど)引(ひ)き直(なお)す人(ひと)もいる。

Some people don't worry about drawing bad luck, while others draw again.

Bad fortune or ill omen, most commonly seen on omikuji fortune slips at shrines and temples. The opposite of 吉(きち).

Omikuji context

When someone draws 凶(きょう), the custom is to tie the paper slip to a designated tree or rack at the shrine, symbolically leaving the bad luck behind. Some shrines have eliminated 凶(きょう) from their omikuji to keep visitors happy.

Compounds

大凶(だいきょう) — terrible luck (worst possible result)
凶悪(きょうあく) — atrocious, heinous
凶器(きょうき) — weapon (used in a crime)
凶作(きょうさく) — crop failure, bad harvest
凶事(きょうじ) — misfortune, calamity

Similar words

不吉(ふきつ) — ominous, unlucky (adjective-like usage, broader range)
災難(さいなん) — disaster, misfortune (an actual event, not a prediction)

Related Words

Antonym: 吉(きち) (good fortune)

Compare: 不吉(ふきつ) (ominous, unlucky)

Compare: 災難(さいなん) (disaster, misfortune)

general

Added 2026.3.25 19:10 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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