Translation guide
The phrase 'rest in peace' is used to express hope that a deceased person's soul finds peace. In Japanese, it is most commonly expressed with set phrases like 安らかにお眠りください or ご冥福をお祈りします, depending on context and religious background.
ご冥福をお祈りします。
May his/her soul rest in peace.
Standard condolence phrase, often used at funerals; Buddhist/Shinto context.
To convey the wish that the deceased person's soul or spirit finds eternal peace, often in a religious or spiritual context.
A direct equivalent of 'rest in peace,' used in prayers, on gravestones, or in messages to the deceased. It has a gentle, somewhat Christian nuance. Often used when addressing the deceased directly.
天国で安らかにお眠りください。
Rest in peace in heaven.
The most common condolence phrase in Japan, used at funerals and in condolence messages. It literally means 'I pray for the happiness in the next world.' Suitable for Buddhist or Shinto contexts, but widely used regardless of specific religion.
心よりご冥福をお祈りします。
I sincerely pray for the repose of your soul.
A more casual, imperative form meaning 'sleep peacefully.' Used in informal contexts, such as among close friends or in fictional dialogue. Can sound blunt if used in formal settings.
友よ、安らかに眠れ。
Rest in peace, my friend.
A noun meaning 'repose of a soul' or 'requiem.' Used in religious or ceremonial contexts, such as memorial services. Not a direct phrase to say to someone, but appears in expressions like 鎮魂の祈り (prayer for the repose of the soul).
鎮魂の祈りを捧げる。
Offer a prayer for the repose of the soul.
To express sympathy to the family or friends of the deceased, often as part of a condolence message or at a funeral.
A formal expression of condolence, meaning 'I offer my condolences.' Used when speaking to the bereaved family. It does not directly translate 'rest in peace' but serves the same social function.
このたびはご愁傷様です。心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。
I am deeply sorry for your loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
A standard condolence phrase meaning 'I am sorry for your loss.' It is slightly less formal than お悔やみ申し上げます but still appropriate for most situations. Often used in combination with other phrases.
ご愁傷様です。どうかお力を落とされませんように。
I am sorry for your loss. Please take care of yourself.
To inscribe 'rest in peace' on a tombstone, memorial, or in a written tribute.
The English abbreviation 'R.I.P.' is widely recognized in Japan, especially on gravestones, in social media posts, or in Western-style memorials. It is often used as-is in Latin alphabet.
墓碑に「R.I.P.」と刻まれていた。
'R.I.P.' was engraved on the tombstone.
A phrase meaning 'sleep peacefully,' often used in epitaphs or memorial writings. It is a more Japanese-sounding alternative to R.I.P.
ここに安らかに眠る。
Here rests in peace.
安らかにお眠りください is a direct address to the deceased, similar to 'rest in peace.' It is often used in Christian contexts or on gravestones. ご冥福をお祈りします is a prayer for the deceased's happiness in the afterlife, commonly used in Buddhist and Shinto funerals. The latter is more versatile and widely accepted in Japanese society.
友人の墓前で「安らかにお眠りください」と祈った。
I prayed 'rest in peace' at my friend's grave.
葬儀で「ご冥福をお祈りします」と述べた。
At the funeral, I said 'may his soul rest in peace.'
Directly translating 'rest in peace' as 平和に休む (heiwa ni yasumu) or 休息を平和に (kyūsoku o heiwa ni) is unnatural and not used in Japanese. Stick to the set phrases provided.
✕ 平和に休んでください。
(Incorrect) Please rest in peace.