Translation guide
The religion and philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha. In Japanese, the most common term is 仏教 (bukkyō), but related concepts like Buddhist temples, statues, and practices have their own specific vocabulary.
Referring to Buddhism as a whole, as a religion or philosophical system.
The standard, neutral term for Buddhism. Used in all contexts, from academic to everyday conversation.
彼は仏教を信仰している。
He practices Buddhism.
仏教はインドで生まれた。
Buddhism originated in India.
Refers to the Buddha's teachings or the Buddhist law/dharma. More formal and often used in religious or philosophical contexts.
Literally 'the way of the Buddha'. Refers to the path of Buddhist practice or the Buddhist way of life. Often used in spiritual or literary contexts.
Referring to a place of worship in Buddhism.
I visited a Buddhist temple. · There's a famous temple in Kyoto.
The most common word for a Buddhist temple. Can be used alone or as a suffix (e.g., 清水寺 Kiyomizu-dera).
Referring to a statue of the Buddha or a Buddhist deity.
Referring to a person who has devoted their life to Buddhist practice.
A general term for a Buddhist priest or monk. Neutral and widely used.
Referring to the sacred texts of Buddhism.
The common term for Buddhist sutras or scriptures. The honorific prefix お makes it polite.
Referring to the household altar where ancestors are honored and Buddhist rites are performed.
Referring to rites performed for the deceased according to Buddhist tradition.
寺 (tera) is a Buddhist temple, while 神社 (jinja) is a Shinto shrine. They are distinct religious sites with different architecture and practices. Buddhism and Shinto coexist in Japan, but the terms are not interchangeable.
京都には寺と神社がたくさんある。
There are many temples and shrines in Kyoto.
English often uses 'Buddhist' as an adjective (Buddhist temple, Buddhist priest), but Japanese uses specific nouns. Avoid literal translations like 仏教の寺; instead use the dedicated word 寺.
仏法を学ぶために寺に通っている。
I go to the temple to study the Buddha's teachings.
彼は仏道に精進している。
He devotes himself to the Buddhist path.
週末に寺へお参りに行った。
I went to visit a temple over the weekend.
この町には古い寺がたくさんある。
There are many old temples in this town.
A more formal term for a Buddhist temple, often used in official names or written descriptions.
その寺院は国宝に指定されている。
That temple is designated as a national treasure.
A statue or image of the Buddha. The standard term for any Buddhist statue.
この仏像は奈良時代のものだ。
This Buddhist statue is from the Nara period.
博物館で美しい仏像を見た。
I saw a beautiful Buddha statue at the museum.
僧侶がお経を読んでいる。
The monk is chanting sutras.
A polite and friendly term for a Buddhist priest. Commonly used in everyday speech.
お坊さんに相談してみたら？
Why don't you talk to the priest about it?
A casual or sometimes slightly derogatory term for a Buddhist priest. Can also mean 'kid' or 'boy' in other contexts.
Can be rude if used directly to a priest. Use with care.
あの坊主はいつも説教が長い。
That monk's sermons are always long.
祖母は毎朝お経を唱える。
My grandmother chants sutras every morning.
A more formal term for Buddhist scriptures, often used in academic or religious contexts.
この経典はサンスクリット語から翻訳された。
This scripture was translated from Sanskrit.
A household Buddhist altar. Very common in Japanese homes, used for ancestor veneration.
毎朝仏壇に手を合わせる。
I put my hands together in prayer at the family altar every morning.
A Buddhist-style funeral or ceremony. Often used to distinguish from Shinto or Christian rites.
葬儀は仏式で行われた。
The funeral was conducted in the Buddhist style.