spirit

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on readings are れい and りょう, and the kun reading is たま. It has 15 strokes. It appears in words for ghosts and souls or spirits.
• Basic usage: 幽霊 is read ゆうれい and 霊魂 is read れいこん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 幽霊 / 霊魂
  • 幽霊 means ghost and is read ゆうれい. It refers to a ghost appearing in a story or rumor.
  • 古い旅館に幽霊が出るという噂を聞いた。 means “I heard a rumor that a ghost appears at the old inn.”
  • 霊魂 means soul or spirit and is read れいこん. It refers to the soul of a deceased person or to the soul in contrast with the body.
  • 古い伝承では鳥が死者の霊魂を運ぶとされている。 means “In an old legend, birds are said to carry the souls of the dead.”