Japanese Symbol for

因果

inga

karma · cause and effect · fate

Readings

  • 因 ONインin
  • 因 KUNよ(る)yo-ru (to be due to)
  • 果 ONカka
  • 果 KUNは(てる)・はた(して)hateru / hatashite

Meaning

Karma, cause and effect, fate, retribution. 因果 combines 因 (cause, reason) with 果 (result, fruit, outcome) — the Buddhist principle that every action has a consequence.

Example words

カルマ

karuma

karma (loanword)

宿縁

shukuen

destiny, fate, karma

天命

tenmei

God's will, destiny, karma

因果応報

inga ōhō

retribution, karma, just deserts

業

gō

karma, deed (Buddhist term)

定め

sadame

destiny, fate, karma

The concept of karma came to Japan through Buddhism. 因果応報 (inga ōhō — "an evil cause produces an evil effect") is the core karmic principle. The Buddhist term 業 (gō, from Sanskrit karma) refers to the accumulated weight of one's actions across lifetimes.

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