What does “bakemono” mean in Japanese?
Japanese people would say “bakemono” to mean ‘monster’ in Japanese. It is the Japanese word for ‘monster’, ‘ghost’, ‘specter’, or perhaps ‘monter-like’. In this blog post, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I will explain its related words which have similar meanings. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use these words properly. Let’s get started!Contents
- Definition and meanings of “bakemono”
- Definition and meanings of “kaibutsu”
- Definition and meanings of “mononoke”
- Definition and meanings of “kaijuu”
- Summary
Definition and meanings of “bakemono”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “bakemono”.- bakemono – 化け物 (ばけもの) : a noun meaning ‘monster’, ‘ghost’, or ‘specter’ in Japanese. Depending on the situation and context, it can work like an adjective to mean ‘monster-like’. It can also work as a plural noun. Learn more about Japanese plural.
The other meanings than ‘monster-like’ are simple and clear, I think. To understand this word more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.
“Bakemono” in kanji
Below are the kanji characters used “bakemono”.- 化 : a kanji character used to mean a change, transformation, or metamorphosis. Depending on the situation and context, it can also express something changed, transformed, or metamorphosed.
- 物 : a kanji character used to mean a thing, matter, or stuff. It can also be found in other words like “tabemono” and “nomimono“.
Due to the kanji concept above, “bakemono” is suitable to express something bizarre which has changed, transformed, or metamorphosed from something else. Depending on the situation, it can also express a thing in the middle of change, transformation, or metamorphosis. So, we can use “bakemono” to call a thing which still has a human-shape. Conversely, this word is not suitable to call a natural-born monster. For this purpose, the other words below would be better.
Definition and meanings of “kaibutsu”
Then, let me explain the definition and meanings of “kaibutsu”.- kaibutsu – 怪物 (かいぶつ) : a noun meaning ‘monster’, ‘ghost’, or ‘specter’. For the same reason as “bakemono”, this can also mean ‘monster-like’.
“Kaibutsu” in kanji
Below are the kanji characters used in “kaibutsu”.- 怪 : a kanji character used to mean ‘weird’, ‘strange’, ‘suspicious’, ‘questionable’, ‘unreliable’, or ‘unusual’.
- 物 : the same as explained above.
Definition and meanings of “mononoke”
Next, then, let me explain the word, “mononoke”. This word would be very famous and popular among Japanese learners, as it is used as a part of the very famous anime movie. Below are the definition and meanings.- mononoke – 物怪 (もののけ) : a noun meaning ‘monster’, ‘ghost’, or ‘specter’. For the same reason as “bakemono”, this can also mean ‘monster-like’.
Definition and meanings of “kaijuu”
The last one, “kaijuu”, is more like a dedicated word for a natural-born monster. Below are its grammatical definition and meanings.- kaijuu – 怪獣 (かいじゅう) : a noun meaning ‘monster’ or ‘monstrous beast’.
“Kaijuu” in kanji
Below are the kanji characters used in “kaijuu”.- 怪 – the same as explained above.
- 獣 – a kanji character used to mean ‘beast’ or ‘animal’ in Japanese.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “bakemono” in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I’ve explained its related words which have similar meanings. Let me summarize them as follows.- bakemono – 化け物 (ばけもの) : a noun meaning ‘monster’, ‘specter’, ‘ghost’, or just something bizarre. These two kanji literally mean a thing which experienced a change, transformation, or metamorphosis.
- kaibutsu – 怪物 (かいぶつ) : a noun meaning ‘monster’, ‘specter’, ‘ghost’, or just something bizarre. These two kanji literally mean something weird, strange, suspicious, unreliable, or unusual. It can also be used to express a sports player doing something incredible.
- mononoke – 物怪 (もののけ) : a noun meaning ‘monster’, ‘ghost’, or ‘specter’. For the same reason as “bakemono”, this can also mean ‘monster-like’.
- kaijuu – 怪獣 (かいじゅう) : a noun meaning ‘monster’ or ‘monstrous beast’. These two kanji literally mean ‘weird beast’, ‘strange beast’, or some such. So, it is more like a dedicated word for a natural-born monster.
Learn more vocabulary on the app!
You can improve your Japanese vocabulary with our flashcards.