Oni
/ˈoʊ.ni/ (Japanese: [oɲi])noun
A supernatural being in Japanese folklore, typically depicted as a fierce ogre or demon.
Did you know?The Japanese word oni was historically associated with unseen spirits of the dead, and its modern ogre-like appearance was shaped partly by Buddhist demon imagery and Chinese folklore.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
鬼 (guǐ)
“A ghost or spirit of the dead; a major written and cultural influence on later Japanese demon vocabulary.”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
鬼 (on-i)
“An unseen supernatural being or spirit; the precise internal origin of oni remains disputed.”
8th Century
Old Japanese
おに / 鬼
“A malignant spirit or supernatural presence, associated with death, illness, and calamity.”
Heian Period
Japanese
oni
“A demon-like being increasingly portrayed in literature and religious art as frightening and physically monstrous.”
Modern English
English
oni
“A Japanese ogre, demon, or folkloric supernatural creature, commonly encountered in translations and popular culture.”