The primary Japanese symbol representing bad luck is the kanji 凶 (kyō).
Understanding the Kanji 凶 (Kyō)
The kanji 凶 is a fundamental character in Japanese with strong associations with misfortune and negativity. It is distinct from characters that might imply mere inconvenience, directly signifying concepts of bad luck or ominous events.
Meanings and Pronunciations
The kanji 凶 has the following key attributes:
- Pronunciation:
- On'yomi (Chinese reading): きょう (kyō)
- Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): まが (maga - less common as a standalone reading, often seen in compound words)
- Primary Meanings:
- Bad luck
- Misfortune
- Ominous
- Evil
- Calamity
Cultural Context and Usage
The kanji 凶 is frequently encountered in various aspects of Japanese culture, particularly in contexts where fortune or outcome is assessed.
Common Usage Examples
| Kanji Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 凶 | きょう | Bad luck, Misfortune |
| 大凶 | だいきょう | Great bad luck; the worst possible fortune |
| 凶事 | きょうじ | An unfortunate or ominous event |
| 凶兆 | きょうちょう | An evil omen; a sign of misfortune |
| 凶作 | きょうさく | A bad harvest; poor crop yield |
Omikuji (Fortune Slips)
One of the most common places to encounter 凶 is on omikuji (おみくじ), fortune slips drawn at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. When drawing an omikuji, fortunes can range from 大吉 (daikichi - great good luck) to 大凶 (daikyō - great bad luck), with 凶 representing a general category of bad luck. Receiving a 凶 or 大凶 fortune indicates a period where caution is advised, and often, the slip is tied to a designated tree or rope at the shrine to leave the bad luck behind.
This character serves as a direct and widely understood symbol for all things unfortunate in the Japanese language and cultural landscape.
