Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 魔法使い | mahōtsukai | [ma̠ho̞ːt͡sɨ̥ka̠i] (narrow) |
| 魔男 | madan | |
| 魔術師 | majutsushi | [ma̠ʑɨt͡sɨɕi] (narrow) |
| ウィザード | wizādo | [β̞iza̠ːdo̞] (narrow) |
The term for a person skilled with magic depends on the specific nuance you want to convey, such as whether you are talking about a fairy tale character, a professional practitioner of an art or a character in a Western-style fantasy game.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 魔法使い is a combination of 魔法, meaning magic and 使い, meaning user or one who uses.
Which one should you use?
魔法使い is the most common and general term for a magic user. It is often used in casual conversation or fairy tales. In contrast, 魔術師 sounds more technical or professional, implying someone who studies the specific 'art' of magic. The word ウィザード is a katakana loanword used specifically in fantasy gaming or Western-style fantasy contexts to evoke a specific aesthetic. 魔男 is another way to refer to a wizard.
How do you pronounce it?
mahōtsukai
When do people say it?
In Japanese, 魔法使い is the standard term used in the translation of the title "The Wizard of Oz" (オズの魔法使い).
Did you know?
- In traditional Japanese folklore, figures similar to wizards were often called 陰陽師 (onmyōji), who combined magic with astronomy and divination.
- The word 魔法 consists of the characters for 'demon' and 'law', suggesting that magic is a set of laws governing the supernatural.
- The suffix 師 in 魔術師 is the same one used for highly respected professionals like doctors 医師 and lawyers 弁護士.
Examples in context
- あなたは魔法使いなの？Are you a wizard?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is a 魔法使い.Tatoeba #8723030 by bunbuku, translation #713937 by CM
- じゃぁ、あなたって魔法使いだった時もあるの？So, was there a time when you were a wizard, too?Tatoeba #8813039 by small_snow, translation #329326 by fcbond
- オズの魔法使いWizard of OzThis sentence is useful for the title "Wizard of Oz" using 魔法使い.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a fantasy movie they just watched.
- 陽太 Yotaあの映画の魔法使いは強かったね。Ano eiga no mahoutsukai wa tsuyokatta ne.The wizard in that movie was strong, wasn't he?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、すごくかっこよかったよ。Un, sugoku kakko yokatta yo.Yeah, he was really cool.
- 陽太 Yota美咲は、魔法使いになりたい？Misaki wa, mahoutsukai ni naritai?Misaki, do you want to be a wizard?
- 美咲 Misaki憧れるけど、ちょっと怖いかな。Akogareru kedo, chotto kowai kana.I admire it, but it's a little scary.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wizard” translations and entries 魔法使い, 魔術師, ウィザード, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ウィザード, 魔法使い, 魔術師, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
