言霊

Japanese
Kanji in this term
言 霊
こと
Grade: 2		 たま > だま
Grade: S
kun’yomi
Alternative spelling
言靈 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation
  • (Tokyo) ことだま [kòtódámá] (Heiban – [0])[1]
  • IPA(key): [ko̞to̞da̠ma̠]

Noun

言(こと)霊(だま) • (kotodama) 

  1. The mystical force inherent in language. Taken from Shinto beliefs, the Japanese believe that speech has magical effects on the world as words conjure up various spirits, or kami (神 gods and goddesses), that animate the living earth.

Derived terms
  • 言霊学(ことたまがく) (kototamagaku)

References
  1. Hirayama, Teruo, editor (1960), 全国アクセント辞典 (Zenkoku Akusento Jiten, “Nationwide Accent Dictionary”) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Tōkyōdō, →ISBN
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