Japanese Word for

狂気

kyōki

madness · insanity · frenzy

Readings

  • 狂 ONキョウkyō
  • 狂 KUNくる(う)kuru-u (to go mad)
  • 気 ONキ・ケki / ke

Meaning

Madness, insanity, frenzy, lunacy. 狂気 combines 狂 (to go mad, to be crazed) with 気 (spirit, mind, energy) — literally "crazed spirit" or "maddened mind."

狂う

kuruu

to go mad, to malfunction

狂人

kyōjin

madman, lunatic

熱狂

nekkyō

frenzy, wild enthusiasm

狂乱

kyōran

frenzy, derangement

狂 (kyō) has a wide range — from clinical insanity to passionate obsession. 熱狂 (nekkyō) means wild enthusiasm or frenzy in a positive sense, like the crowd going crazy at a concert. The word 狂 alone can mean "obsessed with" or "crazy about" something, similar to how English uses "crazy" informally.

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