Translation guide
In Japanese, the most common word for a Buddhist temple is お寺 (otera). The term 寺院 (jiin) is more formal and often used in official names or written contexts. There are also specific terms for temple buildings and grounds.
The learner wants to refer to a Buddhist temple in everyday conversation or writing.
The most common and natural word for a Buddhist temple in spoken and everyday written Japanese. The polite prefix お is almost always used.
I went to a Buddhist temple on the weekend.
This temple is very old.
The same word without the polite prefix. Used in compound words, names, or casual speech. Less common as a standalone word.
That temple is famous.
A more formal term for a Buddhist temple, often used in official names, written descriptions, or when referring to the institution rather than the physical place.
This temple is designated as a national treasure.
The learner wants to refer to a specific temple by its name.
Many temple names end with 寺 (じ), which is the same kanji as 寺 (てら) but read differently in names. The reading of the name part varies.
Kiyomizu-dera is in Kyoto.
Sensō-ji is famous in Tokyo.
The learner wants to refer to specific buildings within a temple complex.
The main hall of a Buddhist temple, where the principal image is enshrined.
I prayed at the main hall.
A five-story pagoda, a common structure in temple grounds.
The main gate of a temple, often large and impressive.
The learner wants to talk about the temple area or related concepts.
寺 (tera) is a Buddhist temple, while 神社 (jinja) is a Shinto shrine. They are distinct religious sites with different architecture and practices. A Buddhist temple often has a pagoda and a main hall, while a shrine has a torii gate and a main sanctuary. When visiting, the etiquette differs: at a shrine you clap your hands when praying, but at a temple you do not.
In casual conversation, お寺 is the natural choice. 寺院 is used in formal writing, news reports, or when referring to the temple as an institution. For example, you would say お寺に行く (go to a temple) but 寺院を調査する (survey a temple).
The five-story pagoda is beautiful.
山門をくぐって境内に入ります。
You pass through the main gate to enter the temple grounds.
お坊さんがお経を読んでいます。
The monk is chanting sutras.