子泣き爺

Japanese

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
子	泣	爺
こ Grade: 1	な Grade: 4	じじい Hyōgai
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
児啼爺

Compound of 子 (ko, “baby”) +‎ 泣 (naki, “cry”) +‎ 爺 (jijī, “old man”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ko̞na̠kʲiʑiʑiː]

Noun

子(こ)泣(な)き爺(じじい) • (konakijijī) 

1. (Japanese folklore) Shapeshifting monster, 妖怪 (yōkai), which for a ruse takes the form of either a helpless baby or tiny old man, crying near woodland trails and crushes passersby who stop to help as it transforms to devour them.

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
子	泣	爺
こ Grade: 1	な Grade: 4	じじ Hyōgai
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
児啼爺

Compound of 子 (ko, “baby”) +‎ 泣 (naki, “cry”) +‎ 爺 (jiji, “old man”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ko̞na̠kʲiʑiʑi]

Noun

子(こ)泣(な)き爺(じじ) • (konakijiji) 

1. (Japanese folklore) Shapeshifting monster, 妖怪 (yōkai), which for a ruse takes the form of either a helpless baby or tiny old man, crying near woodland trails and crushes passersby who stop to help as it transforms to devour them.