Translation guide
A person who travels to a sacred place for religious reasons. In Japanese, the most common word is 巡礼者, but related terms exist for specific pilgrimages like the Shikoku pilgrimage.
A person on a religious journey to a sacred place
Standard term for a pilgrim, literally 'pilgrimage person'. Used for any religious pilgrimage.
He visited Jerusalem as a pilgrim.
Can refer to the pilgrimage itself or, by extension, the pilgrim. Often used in compounds.
Specifically refers to pilgrims on the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. A respectful term.
A person undertaking the 88-temple pilgrimage in Shikoku
A pilgrim in a historical or specific religious tradition (e.g., Islam, Christianity)
巡礼者 is the general term for any pilgrim. 遍路 specifically refers to the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage and is deeply cultural. Use 遍路 only in that context.
He is a pilgrim.
He is a Shikoku pilgrim.
The act of pilgrimage is 巡礼 (じゅんれい). To say 'go on a pilgrimage', use 巡礼に行く or 巡礼する.
go on a pilgrimage
The pilgrims walked for days.
She met a pilgrim on the road.
多くの巡礼がその寺に集まった。
Many pilgrims gathered at the temple.
A pilgrim is walking in white clothes.
I offered water to the pilgrim.
The pilgrim group arrived by bus.