鬼
鬼·demon, ogre
- On-yomi
- キ
- Kun-yomi
- おに
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鬼 | おに | ogre, demon |
| 鬼才 | きさい | a genius, a rare talent |
| 鬼門 | きもん | an unlucky direction; one's weak point |
| 餓鬼 | がき | brat; hungry ghost |
Example sentences
節分に鬼のお面をかぶった。
せつぶんにおにのおめんをかぶった。
I wore an ogre mask at Setsubun.
彼は音楽界の鬼才と呼ばれている。
かれはおんがくかいのきさいとよばれている。
He is called a genius of the music world.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- In compounds 鬼 is usually キ (鬼才 きさい), not おに.
- 鬼 as a prefix can mean 'fiercely' (鬼のように強い), not literally 'demon'.
Memory aid
Picture it
A huge square head 田 on small legs with a trailing tail — the classic Japanese ogre in its mask.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 鬼 mean?