also: おおがみ · だいじん
noun
great god; deity
Archaic honorific term for a god or deity, often used in Shinto contexts or classical literature. Modern usage is rare and mostly found in fixed expressions or historical references.
古事記には、天照大神が岩戸に隠れた話が記されている。
In the Kojiki, the story of the great god Amaterasu hiding in the rock cave is recorded.
大神神社は日本最古の神社の一つとされる。
Ōmiwa Shrine is considered one of the oldest shrines in Japan.
Sino-Japanese reading; less common and may appear in historical or literary contexts.
Compound of 大 (ō, 'great') + 神 (kami, 'god'). The reading おおかみ is the native Japanese reading, while だいじん is the Sino-Japanese reading. The term is archaic and primarily used in historical or religious contexts.