邪気

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 邪気 (じゃき) is a noun for malign spiritual influence or, in human character, guile and ill intent.
• Basic usage: 邪気を払う drives away a malign force in a folktale, while 笑顔には邪気がない says a child’s smile contains no malice or calculation.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Malign spirit and human guile
  • 邪気を払う assumes a folkloric force, whereas 邪気がない figuratively describes purity of character. The latter is not a finding about the literal absence of spirits.