魂
tamashii[ta̠ma̠ɕiː]
The Japanese word for soul is 魂 (tamashii). Wiktionary also lists 霊 (rei) and 魂魄 (konpaku).
Meaning: the spirit or essence of a person that is often believed to live on after the person's death (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 魂 | tamashii | [ta̠ma̠ɕiː] (narrow) [ta̠ma̠] (narrow) |
| 霊 | rei | [ɾe̞ː] (narrow) [ta̠ma̠] (narrow) |
| 魂魄 | konpaku |
The word is used to describe the spirit or essence of a person, which is often believed to live on after death.
Which one should you use?
While 魂 (tamashii) refers to the essence or soul within a person, 霊 (rei) often refers to a spirit or ghost that has departed or exists as a supernatural entity. Additionally, 魂魄 (konpaku) is a highly formal, literary or philosophical term for the soul.
How do you pronounce it?
tamashii
Did you know?
- In some traditional beliefs, a person's 魂 (tamashii) could accidentally leave the body during sleep or shock, requiring a ritual to call it back.
- The word for soul, 魂 (tamashii), is thought to be phonetically linked to the word for 'jewel', 玉 (tama). This suggests a cultural connection between the preciousness of a gemstone and the value of the human spirit.
- Certain traditional Japanese crafts and arts involve the concept of putting one's 魂 (tamashii) into a work to give it life.
Examples in context
- 肉体は滅びるが霊魂は不滅である。A man's body dies, but his soul is immortal.This sentence uses 魂 to express the immortality of the soul compared to the physical body.Tatoeba #122975 by tommy__san, translation #281027 by CM
- 魂を売ったのか？Did he sell his soul?This sentence uses 魂 in the context of selling one's soul.Tatoeba #9788059 by Balamax, translation #9788599 by shekitten
- ペンは魂の舌である。The pen is the tongue of the soul.This sentence uses 魂 in a metaphorical expression regarding the pen and the soul.Tatoeba #892862 by Scott, translation #893832 by Scott
- 私の魂は音楽に生きている。My soul lives in music.
- 彼の歌声は魂を揺さぶる。His singing voice touches the soul.
- 彼は霊魂が別の存在として存在すると信じている。He believes that the soul exists as a separate entity.
- 彼女の魂は自然と繋がっている。Her soul is connected to nature.
- この映画は心の奥深くまで響く。This movie resonates deep within the soul.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about a movie they just watched.
- 結衣 Yuiあの映画は魂を揺さぶる物語だったね。Ano eiga wa tamashii o yusaburu monogatari datta ne.That movie was a soul-stirring story, wasn't it?
- 蓮 Ren本当に。深く心に響いたよ。Hontō ni. Fukaku kokoro ni hibiita yo.Truly. It really touched my heart.
- 結衣 Yui魂が浄化されたような気分だよ。Tamashii ga jōka sareta yō na kibun da yo.I feel as if my soul has been purified.
- 蓮 Ren僕も同じ気持ちだ。いい映画だったね。Boku mo onaji kimochi da. Ii eiga datta ne.I feel the same way. It was a great movie.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soul” translations and entries 魂, 霊, 魂魄, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 霊, 魂, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
