禍々しい

• Reading: まがまがしい
• Romaji: magamagashii
• Kanji breakdown: 禍 (ka/wazawai) — calamity, misfortune, curse
• Pronunciation: /ma.ɡa.ma.ɡa.ɕi.i/

Meaning

Ominous; sinister; unlucky; ill-omened. Describes something that radiates evil or misfortune, inducing a sense of dread.

An i-adjective with deep literary and mythological roots. 禍 (wazawai/ka) means calamity or disaster, and the reduplication 禍々 intensifies this to an overwhelming aura of malevolence or ill fortune. Used in literature, folklore, and modern horror or fantasy contexts to describe cursed objects, dark omens, malevolent entities, or deeply disturbing atmospheres. Rare in casual speech.

Examples

1. 祠の奥に祀られていた古い面は、禍々しい雰囲気を放っていた。 The ancient mask enshrined in the depths of the small shrine emanated a sinister aura.
2. 空が禍々しい色に染まり、村人たちは嵐の来訪を恐れた。 The sky was stained an ominous colour, and the villagers feared the coming of a storm.
3. 彼の目には禍々しい光が宿っており、誰もが本能的に距離を置いた。 A malevolent light dwelt in his eyes, and everyone instinctively kept their distance.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, folklore, horror, mythology

Tone: ominous, literary

Origin & History

Derived from 禍 (wazawai — calamity, misfortune, curse). The reduplication 禍々 is a classical intensifying pattern. The い ending makes it an i-adjective.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to Modern

Generation: Adult

Social background: Literary