悪魔

• Reading: あくま
• Romaji: akuma
• Kanji breakdown: 悪 (aku) — evil, bad; 魔 (ma) — demon, magic
• Pronunciation: /a.kɯ.ma/

Meaning

Devil; demon; evil spirit. A supernatural being associated with wickedness and temptation.

A noun referring to demonic or diabolical beings. Frequently appears in manga, anime, literature, and religious contexts. Also used figuratively to describe someone extremely cruel or a powerful temptation, as in 悪魔のようなささやき (a devilish whisper). The opposite is 天使 (angel).

Examples

1. この物語には悪魔が登場する。 A devil appears in this story.
2. 悪魔のように冷たい人だと言われた。 People said he was as cold as a devil.
3. 甘いものは私にとって悪魔のような誘惑だ。 Sweets are a devilish temptation for me.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, religion, figurative speech

Tone: dramatic

Origin & History

From Buddhist terminology, combining 悪 (evil) and 魔 (demon, magic). Originally referred to Māra, the Buddhist demon who tempted the Buddha, and later expanded to include Western demon concepts.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal