How to Say "Nightmare" in Japanese

悪夢

akumu[a̠kɯ̟mɯ̟]

The Japanese word for nightmare is 悪夢 (akumu).

Much like in English, it is also used figuratively to describe a terrible real-life situation.

Meaning: dream (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the kanji 悪 (bad) and 夢 (dream), literally meaning "bad dream".

In Japanese, the word is a noun that does not change its form based on whether the dream was singular or plural.

akumu

The character for 'dream' 夢 is used in the word 夢中, which describes being so absorbed in something that you forget the world around you.
In some traditional Japanese beliefs, nightmares were thought to be caused by a 'nightmare spirit' or pressure on the chest, similar to the 'Old Hag' folklore in English.
The term for a pleasant dream, 吉夢, uses the kanji for 'good luck' or 'auspicious' instead of just 'good'.

悪夢に魘された。
I had a nightmare.
This sentence is useful for saying you had a nightmare using the form 悪夢.
Tatoeba #191364 by bunbuku, translation #28526 by CK
この悪夢をだれか止めてくれ。
Somebody stop this nightmare.
This sentence is useful for requesting someone stop a nightmare using the form 悪夢.
Tatoeba #7562226 by Sonata, translation #9235216 by kedymera
まるで悪夢を見ているようです。
It's just like a nightmare.
This sentence is useful for comparing a situation to a nightmare using the form 悪夢.
Tatoeba #789598 by arihato, translation #789599 by Swift
彼は悪夢で目が覚めました。
He woke up from a nightmare.
恐ろしい夢を見て、夜中に叫んでしまいました。
I had a terrifying dream and ended up screaming in the middle of the night.
3 more sentences on Tatoeba

Yui and Hiroto are talking about a scary movie they just watched.

結衣 Yui

あれはまるで悪夢のようだったね。
Are wa marude akumu no you datta ne.
That was just like a nightmare, wasn't it?
大翔 Hiroto

本当に、悪夢のような展開だった。
Hontou ni, akumu no you na tenkai datta.
Really, it was a nightmare-like plot.
結衣 Yui

怖い夢を見ちゃいそうだよ。
Kowai yume o michaisou da yo.
I feel like I might have a scary dream.
大翔 Hiroto

大丈夫、ゆっくり休んでね。
Daijoubu, yukkuri yasunde ne.
It's okay, get some good rest.

Sources

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