What does “bakemono” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “bakemono” to mean ‘monster’, ‘ghost’, ‘specter’, or such in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji expression. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “bakemono” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
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. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
Native speakers use this noun to refer to a creature which often terrifies us and looks unfamiliar. So, its usage is similar to those of the English nouns above, I think.
It’s also worth mentioning here that native speakers use this noun like an adjective especially in speaking to mean ‘monster-like’ in Japanese.
The definition and meanings are not that difficult. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji characters in detail, one by one.
Bakemono in kanji
The kanji expression of “bakemono” contains the following two characters:
- 化 : a kanji character used to mean a change, transformation, or metamorphosis. Depending on the situation and context, this can also express something changed, transformed, or metamorphosed.
- 物 : a kanji character used to mean a thing, matter, or stuff. This can also be found in other words like “tabemono“, “nomimono“, “kaimono“, and “monogatari“.
From these two kanji characters, we can understand that “bakemono” literally means something transformed. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the meanings, but still very close, I think. Monsters often transform their bodies.
When we meet new kanji expressions, we should check their kanji characters in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji characters tell us a lot about the meanings of the expressions they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “bakemono” through the detailed check above.
Then, let me explain how to use “bakemono” through the example sentences below.
Example #1: how to say “monster” in Japanese
boku wa kinou koko de bakemono wo mi ta – 僕は昨日ここで化け物を見た (ぼくはきのうここでばけものをみた)
I saw a monster here yesterday.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
- kinou – 昨日 (きのう) : a noun meaning ‘yesterday’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb to say “yesterday” in Japanese.
- koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun meaning ‘here’ in Japanese.
- de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “koko” to say where “boku” has seen “bakemono”.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “bakemono” to make the object in the sentence.
- mi – 見 (み) : one conjugation of the verb, “miru”, which means ‘to see’, ‘to watch’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form. In the example, this is used after “mi” to make its past tense form, “mi ta”.
This is a typical usage of “bakemono”. When we want to say “monster” in Japanese, this noun is a very good option.
Example #2: another usage of “bakemono”
bakemono wa kotoba wo hanashi ta – 化け物は言葉を話した (ばけものはことばをはなした)
The monster spoke.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kotoba – 言葉 (ことば) : a noun meaning ‘language’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- hanashi – 話し (はなし) : one conjugation of the verb, “hanasu”, which means ‘to speak’, ‘to talk’, or such in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
This is another typical usage of “bakemono”. The original meaning of the Japanese sentence is more like ‘the monster spoke a human language’, but it has been translated as just ‘the monster spoke’.
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 how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- bakemono – 化け物 (ばけもの) : a noun meaning ‘monster’, ‘ghost’, or ‘specter’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. These two kanji characters literally mean something transformed. This literal interpretation is not completely in line with the meanings, but still very close, I think. Monsters often transform their bodies.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
Learn more vocabulary on the app!
You can improve your Japanese vocabulary with our flashcards.
