Translation guide
A convent is a community of nuns living together under religious vows, or the building they live in. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 修道院, but it can refer to both monasteries and convents. For a specifically female community, 女子修道院 is used. The term 尼僧院 is more technical or historical.
The most common way to refer to a convent in Japanese, covering both the building and the community of nuns.
This is the standard word for a convent or monastery. It is neutral and widely understood. To specify a convent for nuns, you can add 女子 (じょし) before it.
She grew up in a convent.
The convent is on the hill.
Explicitly means 'women's convent'. Use this when you need to distinguish from a monastery for monks.
She entered a convent.
A more technical or historical term for a convent, specifically a Buddhist nunnery or a Christian convent. Less common in everyday speech.
The convent was built in the Middle Ages.
Referring to the group of nuns as a collective, rather than the building.
修道院 can refer to both monasteries (for monks) and convents (for nuns). If the context doesn't make it clear, use 女子修道院 to specify a convent for women. In many cases, 修道院 alone is sufficient when the gender is obvious from context.
In Japan, Christian convents are less common than Buddhist temples. The word 修道院 is primarily associated with Christianity, while 尼僧院 can refer to Buddhist nunneries. If you're talking about a Buddhist convent, 尼寺 (あまでら) might be more appropriate.