縁起物
engimono[ẽ̞ŋʲɡʲimo̞no̞]
The English phrase 'lucky charm' can be translated into Japanese as 縁起物 (engimono), 御呪い or 呪符.
Meaning: object kept for good luck (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 縁起物 | engimono | [ẽ̞ŋʲɡʲimo̞no̞] (narrow) |
| 御呪い | omajinai | |
| 呪符 | jufu | [d͡ʑɨɸɯ̟] (narrow) |
Which one should you use?
While 縁起物 refers to general lucky items, 呪符 specifically refers to a talisman or paper charm used in a religious or spiritual context, such as those used in Shinto or Buddhist practices, rather than a general lucky trinket.
How do you pronounce it?
engimono
Did you know?
- In Japan, many people carry a 御守 (omamori), a cloth-wrapped lucky charm from a shrine, which is never supposed to be opened to see the contents inside.
- While 呪符 means a talisman, the character 呪 can also mean 'to curse' in modern Japanese, making the term sound quite powerful or even dark to a listener.
- It is common to return old lucky charms to the shrine where they were bought. Rather than throwing them away, they are burned in a ritual fire to properly release the spirit of the charm.
Examples in context
- この置物は縁起物です。Kono okimono wa engimono desu.This ornament is a lucky charm.
- 縁起物を探しています。Engimono o sagashite imasu.I am looking for a lucky charm.
- これは縁起物として有名です。Kore wa engimono to shite yuumei desu.This is famous as a lucky charm.
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are browsing a traditional gift shop.
- 蓮 Renこの招き猫は縁起物かな？Kono maneki neko wa engimono kana?I wonder if this maneki neko is a lucky charm?
- 陽葵 Himariそうだよ、縁起物として人気があるよ。Sou da yo, engimono to shite ninki ga aru yo.Yes, it is popular as a lucky charm.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵なら、何が欲しい？Himari nara, nani ga hoshii?Himari, what would you like?
- 陽葵 Himari可愛い縁起物がいいな。Kawaii engimono ga ii na.A cute lucky charm would be nice.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lucky charm” translations and entries 縁起物, 呪符, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
