Translation guide
A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims. In Japanese, the word is usually expressed with the loanword モスク, but the native term 清真寺 is also used in certain contexts.
モスク
mosque
Referring to a building where Muslims gather for prayer and religious activities.
The most common and neutral term for a mosque in Japanese. It is a loanword from English and is widely understood.
週末にモスクへ行きました。
I went to the mosque on the weekend.
この町には大きなモスクがあります。
There is a big mosque in this town.
A traditional term for mosque, literally 'pure and true temple'. It is less common in everyday speech but may appear in historical or formal contexts, or in names of specific mosques.
東京清真寺は歴史があります。
Tokyo Mosque has a history.
A direct transliteration of the Arabic word 'masjid'. It is occasionally used in academic or religious contexts, but is not widely recognized by the general public.
マスジドはアラビア語で礼拝所を意味します。
Masjid means place of worship in Arabic.
When talking about mosques in Japanese, モスク is the safest choice. It is used in news, travel guides, and daily conversation. If you are referring to a specific mosque with a known name, you can use the name directly, e.g., 東京ジャーミイ (Tokyo Camii).