キリシタン

キ

リ

シ

タ

ン

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

Christianity (in feudal Japan); Christian (in feudal Japan)

usually written using kana alonehistorical term

Historical term for Christianity and Christians in Japan, especially during the 16th–19th centuries when the religion was banned. Often used in historical contexts.

from Portuguese cristão

江え戸ど時じ代だい、キリシタンは厳きびしく弾だん圧あつされた。
During the Edo period, Christians were severely persecuted.
隠かくれキリシタンは、表おもて向むきは仏ぶっ教きょう徒ととして暮くらしながら密ひそかに信しん仰こうを守まもった。
Hidden Christians outwardly lived as Buddhists while secretly keeping their faith.

See all 42 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

キリシタンを禁きん止しするto ban Christianity (in feudal Japan)
江え戸ど幕ばく府ふはキリシタンを禁きん止しした。
The Edo shogunate banned Christianity.
キリシタンを取とり締しまるto crack down on Christians
幕ばく府ふはキリシタンを厳きびしく取とり締しまった。
The shogunate strictly cracked down on Christians.
キリシタンになるto become a (feudal-era) Christian
彼かれはひそかにキリシタンになった。
He secretly became a Christian.

Kanji

切cut, cutoff, be sharp
支branch, support, sustain
丹rust-colored, red, red lead
吉good luck, joy, congratulations
利profit, advantage, benefit
死death, die
鬼ghost, devil
理logic, arrangement, reason

Related words

クリスチャン
クリスチャン is the modern, general word for a Christian, while キリシタン specifically refers to Christians in Japan during the 16th–19th century ban period.
キリスト教きょうN3
キリスト教 is the standard, neutral term for the religion of Christianity, whereas キリシタン is a historical term tied to feudal Japan and its persecuted believers.

Written forms

キリシタンUsage69%
Standard modern spelling; usually written in kana.
切きり支し丹たんUsage30%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)
Ateji spelling, historically used but now rare.
吉き利り支し丹たんUsage<1%
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Rare ateji variant.
切きり死し丹たん
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Rare ateji variant.
鬼き理り死し丹たん
ateji (phonetic kanji usage)rarely-used kanji form
Rare ateji variant.

Etymology

From Portuguese cristão, meaning 'Christian'. The term entered Japanese during the 16th-century missionary period and became specifically associated with the hidden Christian communities of the Edo era.