精霊（せいれい、seireい）
- spirit

The Japanese word 精霊, pronounced せいれい (seirei), generally translates to "spirit," "sprite," "fairy," or "elemental." It refers to a supernatural being or entity believed to inhabit or be associated with a specific place, object, or natural element. These spirits can be benevolent, malevolent, or neutral, and they often play a role in folklore, mythology, and religious beliefs. They are often associated with nature, such as forests, mountains, water, and the wind. The concept is similar to the Western idea of spirits or elementals.

⚫︎ 森の精霊 Translation: Forest spirit ⚫︎ 精霊たちは山を守っていると信じられています。 Translation: It is believed that the spirits protect the mountains.

精霊 is used in various contexts, including: ⚫︎ Describing creatures in fantasy stories, anime, manga, and video games. ⚫︎ Referring to spirits in Shinto beliefs. ⚫︎ Discussing folklore and mythology. ⚫︎ Talking about the supernatural.

精霊 is typically written with the kanji 精霊. The reading is always せいれい (seirei) in hiragana. There are no other standard ways to write this word. Okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is not applicable here as it is a single-word concept.

⚫︎ 妖精 (ようせい - yōsei): fairy ⚫︎ 霊 (れい - rei): spirit, ghost ⚫︎ 精 (せい - sei): spirit, essence (used in compounds)

There aren't direct antonyms for 精霊 as it is a concept. However, words that represent the absence of spiritual presence or non-living things could be considered indirect opposites.

その古い木には、精霊が宿っているという伝説があります。 ・Translation: There is a legend that a spirit dwells in that old tree. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the belief in a spirit residing within an old tree.

このアニメでは、精霊たちが世界のバランスを保っています。 ・Translation: In this anime, the spirits maintain the balance of the world. ・Explanation: This sentence explains how spirits play a role in the fictional world of an anime.

The word 精霊 is a compound word. 精 (sei) means "spirit," "essence," or "purity," and 霊 (rei) means "spirit," "soul," or "ghost." Therefore, 精霊 literally means "spirit spirit" or "essence spirit," highlighting the idea of a supernatural being.