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天主堂 (tenshudou) Japanese meaning: Catholic church | Kotomora

天てん主しゅ堂どう

て

ん

しゅ

ど

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

Catholic church; cathedral

Specifically refers to a Catholic church building. The term 天主 (てんしゅ) is an older Catholic term for God, so 天主堂 carries a distinctly Catholic nuance.

長なが崎さきの大おお浦うら天てん主しゅ堂どうは国こく宝ほう

に

指し

定てい

さ

れ

て

いる

。

The Ōura Cathedral in Nagasaki is designated a national treasure.

この町まちには古ふるい天てん主しゅ堂どうがいくつか残のこっている。

Several old Catholic churches remain in this town.

Kanji

天heavens, sky, imperial
主lord, chief, master
堂public chamber, hall

Related words

教きょう会かい
教会 is the general word for a Christian church (building or congregation), while 天主堂 specifically refers to a Catholic church building and is less common in everyday speech.
聖せい堂どう
聖堂 is a broader term for a sacred hall or church, not limited to Catholicism, and can refer to the main worship space within a church.

Built from

天てん主しゅ+堂どう

Etymology

Compound of 天主 (てんしゅ, 'Lord of Heaven', an older Catholic term for God) and 堂 (どう, 'hall'). The term reflects historical Catholic missionary usage in Japan.