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.
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.
I went to the mosque on the weekend.
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.
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.
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).
There is a big mosque in this town.