怪異(かいい)

かいい
noun, adjective-na
mysterious; supernatural; uncanny phenomenon
1. mysterious; supernatural; uncanny phenomenon
a strange or supernatural phenomenon; something mysterious and eerie that defies normal explanation
怪異(かいい)な出来事(できごと)が起(お)きた。
A mysterious event occurred.
この屋敷(やしき)では昔(むかし)から怪異(かいい)が報告(ほうこく)されている。
Supernatural occurrences have been reported at this mansion since long ago.
日本(にほん)の民話(みんわ)には様々(さまざま)な怪異(かいい)が登場(とうじょう)する。
Various supernatural phenomena appear in Japanese folk tales.

Used for mysterious or supernatural phenomena, especially in the context of Japanese folklore, ghost stories, and horror fiction. As a noun, it refers to the phenomenon itself; as a na-adjective, it describes something as eerie or uncanny.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 怪異(かいい)な現象(げんしょう): mysterious phenomenon
  • 怪異(かいい)譚(たん): tale of the supernatural
  • 怪異(かいい)が起(お)きる: a supernatural event occurs
  • 怪異(かいい)な雰囲気(ふんいき): eerie atmosphere

CULTURAL NOTE:
Japanese literature has a rich tradition of 怪異(かいい) stories, from classical works like 今昔(こんじゃく)物語(ものがたり) to modern horror fiction. The concept overlaps with 妖怪(ようかい) (supernatural creatures) but is broader, encompassing any unexplainable phenomenon.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 不思議(ふしぎ): mysterious, strange — more everyday and neutral, less eerie
  • 妖怪(ようかい): supernatural creature, monster — specifically refers to creatures, not phenomena
  • 奇怪(きかい): bizarre, strange — emphasizes oddness and absurdity
general
Added 2026.4.4 4:21
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