Translation guide
A religious song of praise, typically sung in a Christian context. In Japanese, the most common word is 賛美歌 (sanbika), but other terms exist for Buddhist hymns, national anthems, and more.
A song of praise to God, sung in church or religious gatherings.
The standard word for a Christian hymn. Used in Protestant and Catholic contexts.
日曜日に教会で賛美歌を歌いました。
We sang hymns at church on Sunday.
この賛美歌はとても有名です。
This hymn is very famous.
Literally 'sacred song'. Often used interchangeably with 賛美歌, but can sound slightly more formal or liturgical. Also used for choral sacred music.
聖歌隊が美しい聖歌を歌った。
The choir sang a beautiful hymn.
Variant kanji for 賛美歌, using 讃 instead of 賛. Same reading and meaning, but less common in modern usage.
古い讃美歌集を見つけた。
I found an old hymn book.
A song or chant of praise in a Buddhist context.
Specifically a Buddhist hymn. 賛歌 means 'song of praise'.
そのお寺では仏教賛歌が歌われます。
Buddhist hymns are sung at that temple.
Traditional Buddhist chanting, not exactly a 'hymn' in the Western sense, but often translated as such. More ritualistic.
僧侶が声明を唱えた。
The monk chanted a hymn.
A national song, often referred to poetically as a 'hymn' in English.
Standard word for national anthem. Not a religious hymn, but may be translated as 'national hymn' in some contexts.
オリンピックで国歌が流れた。
The national anthem was played at the Olympics.
Any song expressing praise or admiration, not necessarily religious.
A song of praise or glorification. Can be used for secular contexts, like a 'hymn to nature'.
この曲は自然への賛歌だ。
This piece is a hymn to nature.
Both mean 'hymn', but 賛美歌 is the everyday word used in most churches. 聖歌 can sound more formal or refer to classical sacred music. In Catholic contexts, 聖歌 is often preferred.
In English, 'hymn' can sometimes refer to a national anthem (e.g., 'national hymn'), but in Japanese, 国歌 is the correct word. 賛美歌 is strictly religious.