僧そう侶りょ

そ

う

りょ

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

Buddhist priest; monk

Buddhism

A Buddhist priest or monk; a formal term used in religious contexts. 'Bonze' is an older, less common English equivalent.

その僧そう侶りょは毎まい朝あさお経きょうを唱となえる。
The monk chants sutras every morning.

僧そう

侶りょ

に

なる

に

は

厳きび

しい

修しゅ

行ぎょう

が

必ひつ

要よう

だ

。

Becoming a Buddhist priest requires rigorous training.

Kanji

僧Buddhist priest, monk
侶companion, follower

Similar words

坊ぼう主ず
坊主 is a more casual or sometimes derogatory term for a Buddhist monk, while 僧侶 is formal and respectful.
住じゅう職しょく
住職 refers specifically to the head priest of a temple, whereas 僧侶 is a general term for any Buddhist priest or monk.

Etymology

僧 (そう, 'monk') + 侶 (りょ, 'companion'), originally referring to a member of the Buddhist clergy. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with Buddhist priesthood.