呪い

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
呪
のろ Grade: S
kun'yomi

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 呪う (norou, “to curse someone or something”).

Alternative forms

• 詛い, (rare) 咒い

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) のろい [nòróí] (Heiban – [0])
• (Tokyo) のろい [nòróꜜì] (Nakadaka – [2])
• (Tokyo) のろい [nòróíꜜ] (Odaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [no̞ɾo̞i]

Noun

呪(のろ)い • (noroi) ^{←のろひ (norofi)?}

1. (fantasy, occult) a curse (supernatural detriment)
2. a spell (evil magic)

Synonyms

• 呪(じゅ)詛(そ) (juso)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
呪
まじな Grade: S
kun'yomi

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 呪う (majinau, “to use a charm, to use magic”).

Alternative forms

• まじない, (rare) 咒い

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) まじない [màjínáí] (Heiban – [0])
• (Tokyo) まじない [màjínáꜜì] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [ma̠ʑina̠i]

Noun

呪(まじな)い • (majinai) ^{←まじなひ (mazinafi)?}

1. (fantasy, occult) incantation, magic spell
   • 2007, 新時代日漢辭典／新时代日汉辞典 (Xīn Shídài Rì-hàn Cídiǎn), 1st edition, 大新書局／大新书局 (Dàxīn Shūjú), →ISBN:

     呪(まじな)いで病(びょう)気(き)を治(なお)す

     Majinai de byōki o naosu

     Use spells to cure illness

2. deception, manipulation of someone

Usage notes

• The kanji spelling 呪い is more commonly read as noroi (“curse”) in modern Japanese. Consequently, the majinai reading is more commonly spelled in kana.
• But when with the honorific prefix お, お呪い is always read as おまじない

Derived terms

• お呪(まじな)い (omajinai): good luck charm
• 呪(まじな)い師(し) (majinaishi): a spellcaster; a magician

See also

• 魔(ま)法(ほう) (mahō): magic