妖
KANJI DETAIL
bewitching
On readingよう7 strokesN2
Radical 女 · womanStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 妖.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- よう
- Kun reading
- あやしい
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
妖is associated with a mysterious or bewitching quality; its on-reading isよう. - Basic usage:
妖怪(ようかい)means a supernatural creature or monster, while妖精(ようせい)means a fairy.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- The words for a supernatural creature and a fairy
怖い妖怪means a frightening monster.妖精の羽means fairy wings; this word appears with a fairy guiding a traveler or with a winged costume.- Both words begin with
よう; their latter parts areかいandせいrespectively.

