also: しゅどうしゃ
monk; member of a religious order
Refers to a person who devotes themselves to religious practice, especially within a monastic or ascetic tradition. Can be used broadly for Christian monks, Buddhist practitioners, or similar figures.
彼は若い頃に修道者になった。
He became a monk when he was young.
修道者は毎日祈りと労働を繰り返す。
The monk repeats prayer and labor every day.
修道士 specifically refers to a male member of a Christian religious order, whereas 修道者 is gender-neutral and broader in scope.
Standard kanji spelling for a person who practices religious discipline.
Alternate reading しゅどうしゃ is less common; しゅうどうしゃ is the standard reading.
Compound of 修 (しゅう, 'discipline, practice') + 道 (どう, 'way, path') + 者 (しゃ, 'person'). The reading しゅどうしゃ is a contraction of しゅうどうしゃ.