King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “spectre”

Romaji: yuurei
ghost; specter; spectre; apparition

In Japanese, spectre is , read (yuurei).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

  1. n ghost; specter; spectre; apparition; phantom

Kanji and stroke order

seclude, confine to a room, deep
on: ユウ
kun: ふか.い、かす.か、くら.い、しろ.い
9 strokes · JLPT 1
spirits, soul
on: レイ、リョウ
kun: たま
15 strokes · JLPT 1

Other Japanese words for “spectre”

WordReadingMeaning
ようかい youkaighost; apparition; phantom
ばけもの bakemonogoblin; apparition; monster
スペクター supekutaaspectre; specter
もののけ mononokeevil spirit; (vengeful) ghost; specter
ようき youkighost; apparition; phantom

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
ゆうへい yuuheiconfinement; imprisonment; incarceration
ゆうげん yuugenmysterious profundity; quiet beauty; the subtle and profound
ゆうき yuukighost; revenant; spirit (of the dead)
ゆうかい yuukaihades; realm of the dead
ゆうこく yuukokudeep ravine; glen
ぼうれい boureideparted spirit; soul of the dead
いれい ireiconsoling the spirits of the dead
しょうりょう shouryouspirit of the deceased

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.