悪魔

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 悪魔 (あくま) combines evil 悪 and demon 魔 to denote a devil.
• Basic usage: It can be a supernatural tempter in a legend or a figurative dark impulse within a person.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A creature and an inner metaphor
  • 心の中の悪魔 usually personifies temptation or a harmful impulse rather than asserting the presence of a literal demon.