Translation guide
A formal gathering for worship, prayer, or ritual in a religious context. Japanese expressions vary by religion and formality.
To refer to a worship service, especially in a Christian or broadly religious context.
The most common word for a Christian worship service. Also used for services in other religions, but primarily Christian.
I attended the Sunday service.
Specifically a Catholic Mass. Use only for Catholic services.
Mass was held at the church.
A Buddhist memorial service or ritual. Not for regular worship, but for specific occasions like funerals or anniversaries.
A Buddhist memorial service was held at the temple.
A Shinto festival or ritual ceremony. Often involves processions and offerings.
Many people gathered for the shrine's festival service.
A generic term for ceremony or ritual. Can be used for religious services but is broader and less specific.
A religious ceremony was performed.
To refer to a Buddhist service, such as a sutra chanting or memorial.
A Buddhist memorial service for the deceased, often held on specific anniversaries after death.
We chanted sutras at my grandfather's memorial service.
Daily Buddhist devotional practice or service, often done at home or in a temple. Can also refer to a monk's duties.
Sutra chanting or reading, often part of a Buddhist service. Focuses on the act of chanting.
To refer to a Shinto ceremony, often involving purification and offerings.
To describe a gathering that is not strictly a formal religious service but has spiritual or meditative aspects.
A gathering or meeting, often used for informal religious or spiritual groups. Can be combined with other words.
I attended a faith gathering.
A meeting or assembly. When combined with religious terms, it can mean a service-like gathering (e.g., 祈祷会 - prayer meeting).
礼拝 is the general term for a Christian worship service. ミサ specifically refers to the Catholic Mass. 法要 is a Buddhist memorial service, not a regular worship service. Use the appropriate term based on the religion and context.
The English word 'service' in 'religious service' does not directly translate to サービス (which means customer service or freebie). Always use the specific religious term.
毎朝、仏壇の前でお勤めをする。
Every morning, I do my Buddhist devotions in front of the family altar.
The monk began chanting sutras.
We carried the portable shrine at the summer festival.
We offered prayers at the prayer meeting.