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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/38674
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Does it have to be an actual translation? Translations don't always work, as synonyms get lost in translation. As you mentioned, there is no English word that can mean "fairy", "elf" **and**"goblin".

Translating to any of the options will mean that you lose out some of the ambiguity. Maybe it's important in your story that the creature's alignment is unknown. If you translate it to "fairy", readers will interpret it as good. If you translate it to "goblin", readers are liable to interpret it as conniving or evil. You can't retain the ambiguity.

Instead, you can simply pick a name without any inherent meaning (or suggestion about alignment), and then define the creature through observation rather than naming.

The Wikipedia page you linked has an English variant, where the chosen name seems to be [**Yōsei**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dsei). Why not use that, so you don't bias your readers and are actually able to assume direct control over steering the viewer's observation; as opposed to relying on existing words with Western connotations?

- **Fairy** = small and benevolent. Has a physical shape but they are inherently magic. 
- **Spirit** = ghost or ethereal entity, lacks physical shape. 
- **Elf** = humanoid creature with magical affinity and often has an expanded lifespan. Often acts as a counterpart to the human race. Alternatively (but less commonly), very similar to a fairy but not _as_ magical in nature.
- **Goblin** = Conniving, tinkerer, likely evil (or at least lacks moral principles). Humanoid, but lesser to elves and humans.
- **Demon** = almost definitively evil. Possible religious connotation (demons are to the Devil what angels are to God; henchmen). Known to possess humans.

These are in no way guaranteed traits, but if the reader reads the word, they are liable to make inferences as to what the creature is like.

Because 妖精 can mean all of these things _at the same time_, the reader is therefore unable to make a choice between the listed interpretations. They must assume a generalized shape. But as English lacks a word that encompasses all definitions, you're much more likely to have your English readers pidgeon hole your creature by the common definition of the word you chose to use.

Original score: 8