Learn Japanese Kanji - Aesthetic Guide

Lesson 15: 魂 (Soul / Spirit)

Radicals in 魂

The kanji 魂 (tama or tamashii, meaning "soul" or "spirit") is a character that embodies the essence of life and the supernatural. It is classified under the 鬼 (demon) radical, suggesting a connection to the spiritual realm.

鬼 (Demon Radical): The left part, Radical 194, means "demon" or "ghost," symbolizing the soul as an otherworldly or ethereal entity.
云 (Say/Cloud): The right part, derived from Radical 7 (二, two) and 口 (mouth), historically means "to say" or "cloud," possibly hinting at the soul as an intangible, airy presence or a voice from beyond.

Visually, 魂 pairs a ghostly figure (鬼) with a cloud-like or spoken essence (云), evoking the soul as a mysterious, vital force that transcends the physical—a striking depiction of its spiritual nature. Fun fact: Its demon radical ties it to ancient beliefs about spirits and the afterlife, reflecting the soul’s enduring mystique.

Examples of 魂 in Use

Here are some common words and phrases using 魂:

魂 (tamashii)

Meaning: Soul / Spirit

Hiragana: たましい

Example: 魂が震えた。
(Tamashii ga furueta.)
"My soul trembled."

魂魄 (konpaku)

Meaning: Soul and body / Life force

Hiragana: こんぱく

Example: 魂魄が離れる。
(Konpaku ga hanareru.)
"The soul and body separate."

霊魂 (reikon)

Meaning: Spirit / Ghost

Hiragana: れいこん

Example: 霊魂を感じる。
(Reikon o kanjiru.)
"I feel a spirit."

魂胆 (kontan)

Meaning: Ulterior motive / Scheme

Hiragana: こんたん

Example: 魂胆を見抜く。
(Kontan o minuku.)
"I see through their scheme."

魂の叫び (tamashii no sakebi)

Meaning: Cry of the soul

Hiragana: たましいのさけび

Example: 魂の叫びを聞く。
(Tamashii no sakebi o kiku.)
"I hear the cry of the soul."

闘魂 (tōkon)

Meaning: Fighting spirit

Hiragana: とうこん

Example: 闘魂を見せる。
(Tōkon o miseru.)
"I show my fighting spirit."

魂の友 (tamashii no tomo)

Meaning: Soulmate

Hiragana: たましいのとも

Example: 魂の友に出会った。
(Tamashii no tomo ni deatta.)
"I met my soulmate."

魂を込める (tamashii o komeru)

Meaning: To put one’s soul into

Hiragana: たましいをこめる

Example: 魂を込めて作る。
(Tamashii o komete tsukuru.)
"I make it with my soul."

魂の浄化 (tamashii no jōka)

Meaning: Purification of the soul

Hiragana: たましいのじょうか

Example: 魂の浄化が必要だ。
(Tamashii no jōka ga hitsuyō da.)
"Purification of the soul is needed."

亡魂 (bōkon)

Meaning: Departed soul / Ghost

Hiragana: ぼうこん

Example: 亡魂が現れる。
(Bōkon ga arawareru.)
"A departed soul appears."

The kanji 魂 captures the ethereal and vital essence of the soul, resonating through spiritual, emotional, and cultural expressions.