The Meaning of akuma [悪魔] In Japanese

悪魔
あくま
Romaji: akuma N4

What does 悪魔 mean?

Translation and Meaning

devil, demon, fiend

Definition

悪魔 refers to a malevolent supernatural being in Japanese usage; it designates an evil, otherworldly entity encountered in religious, mythological, and literary contexts, and can be used metaphorically to describe a wicked person or force.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary supernatural being: a demon or devil in folklore and religion.
  • Metaphorical: a person or force deemed morally wicked or dangerous.
  • In modern media: often used to denote malevolent characters or antagonists.

Etymology

悪 meaning evil; 魔 meaning demon or magic; the compound 悪魔 is a Sino-Japanese formation and the pronunciation akuma comes from the kun readings of the component kanji to yield a native-sounding compound.

Origin

The concept entered Japanese through Chinese Buddhist texts; the compound appeared in classical Japanese literature under strong Chinese influence and became common in religious, literary, and popular usage from the Heian period onward, later expanding with Western demonology in modern media.

Composition

  • 悪 = evil
  • 魔 = demon, spirit, magic
  • 합성 meaning evil demon

Usage

Used as a noun in formal religious and mythological contexts, as well as in literary and media language; in everyday speech it can be used metaphorically to criticize someone’s behavior or describe a dangerous or wicked force, and it participates in compound expressions such as 悪魔の— to indicate possession or association.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: remember 悪魔 as an ‘evil heart’ (悪) colliding with a magical being (魔) to form an entity that embodies evil; imagine a dark heart summoning a demon to recall the meaning.

Variations

  • 魔物 (mamono) — mamono
  • 魔人 (majin) — majin
  • 鬼 (oni) — oni
  • 邪悪な存在 (jaaku na sonzai) — jaaku na sonzai
  • 悪霊 (akuryou) — akuryou

Example Phrases

  • 悪魔 を 見たら 私は ちょっと 怖い
    akuma o mitara watashi wa chotto kowai
    If I see a demon, I am a little scared.
    Lista:
    • 悪魔 (akuma) – demon
    • を (o) – object marker
    • 見たら (mitara) – if/when you see
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I (topic)
    • ちょっと (chotto) – a little
    • 怖い (kowai) – scary
    The target word is the noun meaning demon; in this sentence it is the object marked by を: 「悪魔」.
悪魔