Translation guide
A Buddhist temple belonging to a Zen school. In Japanese, the general word for temple is お寺, but specific terms exist for Zen temples, often using the suffix 〜寺 or 〜禅寺.
The learner wants to refer to a Zen Buddhist temple in general, without specifying a particular sect or size.
There are many famous Zen temples in Kyoto.
General polite word for any Buddhist temple. Use when the Zen affiliation is clear from context or not important.
I go to a nearby temple on weekends to practice zazen.
Formal or written term for a Buddhist temple, often used in official names or academic contexts.
This Zen temple was built in the Kamakura period.
The learner wants to refer to a specific Zen temple by its proper name.
The learner wants to talk about a Zen temple in the context of meditation, training, or monastic life.
Specifically the meditation hall within a Zen temple, but sometimes used metonymically for the temple as a place of practice.
He underwent rigorous training at the Zen temple.
Monks' hall; the living and practice quarters of a Zen temple, emphasizing the monastic community.
If you simply want to say 'temple' in a general sense, お寺 is the safest choice. Use 禅寺 when you need to specify that it's a Zen temple, as many Japanese temples belong to other Buddhist sects.
While 寺院 means temple, ゼン寺院 is not a natural collocation. Stick to 禅寺 or just 寺 with the name.
Kenchoji is a Rinzai Zen temple.
僧堂では毎朝早くから座禅が行われる。
In the monks' hall, zazen is practiced from early every morning.