ブギーマン
bugīman
The English phrase boogeyman is translated into Japanese as ブギーマン (bugīman).
ブギーマン refers specifically to the Western concept of an imaginary monster used to frighten children. The term お化け broadly means ghost or apparition and is used informally to describe supernatural entities including the boogeyman.
Which one should you use?
ブギーマン refers specifically to the Western concept, while the word 妖怪 (yokai) is the broader Japanese term for supernatural monsters or spirits used in similar folklore contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ブギーマン is a loanword from English and is used primarily in contexts like Western movies, literature or pop culture rather than as a traditional Japanese folklore term.
How do you pronounce it?
bugīman
Did you know?
- While ブギーマン is used for Western stories, Japanese parents traditionally used the なまはげ (namahage) demon to scare children into behaving during New Year visits.
- If you use the word お化け (obake) to describe a boogeyman, you are using a word that literally translates to 'something that changes'.
- Unlike the English boogeyman who hides in closets, many Japanese 妖怪 (yokai) are tied to specific physical objects, such as umbrellas or lanterns.
Examples in context
- 部屋には妖怪が出るかもしれないから気をつけてください。Please be careful as there might be a boogeyman in the room.
- 昔、お化けが出るところで遊んでいたんだ。I used to play in a place where the boogeyman appeared.
- ブギーマンなんていないよ。Būgīman nante inai yo.There is no such thing as a boogeyman.
- ブギーマンが来るよ！Būgīman ga kuru yo!The boogeyman is coming!
- 子供たちはブギーマンを怖がっている。Kodomotachi wa Būgīman o kowagatte iru.The children are afraid of the boogeyman.
Example conversation
A brother and sister are talking in their bedroom at night.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、もう寝なさい。じゃないとブギーマンが来るよ。Himari, mō nesai. Janai to bugīman ga kuru yo.Himari, go to sleep now. Otherwise, the boogeyman will come.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔、そんな嘘で私を怖がらせないでよ！Hiroto, sonna uso de watashi o kowagarase naide yo!Hiroto, don't try to scare me with lies like that!
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だよ。あそこで見てるかも。Hontō dayo. Asoko de miteru kamo.I'm serious. He might be watching from over there.
- 陽葵 Himariもう！お願いだから止めて！Mō! Onegai dakara tomete!Stop it! Please just stop!
