Refers to a Shinto shrine, often used in proper names like 明治神宮 (Meiji Jingū). Distinct from 寺 (temple).
They built a small shrine on top of the mountain.
I visited a famous shrine for the first shrine visit of the new year.
Specifically an imperial palace or residence, such as 皇居 (Kōkyo).
A member of the imperial family lived in that palace.
Imperial prince; Imperial princess
Honorific term for a prince or princess of the imperial family. Often used as a suffix in titles, e.g., 秋篠宮 (Akishino-no-miya).
Prince and Princess Akishino attended the ceremony.
headboard with built-in shelves, drawers, etc.
A type of headboard for a bed that incorporates storage such as shelves or drawers. A niche furniture term.
This bed comes with a storage headboard where you can keep small items.
Archaic usage for a Buddhist temple. In modern Japanese, 寺 (tera) is used instead.
In old texts, 宮 can sometimes refer to a temple.
I visited the shrine to pray on New Year's Day.
He has served the Imperial prince for many years.
御所 refers specifically to the Kyoto Imperial Palace or a retired emperor's residence, while 宮 is the broader term for imperial palaces and residences in general.
親王 is the formal title for an Imperial prince, while 宮 is used more broadly and often appears as an honorific suffix in Imperial family members' names.
寺 is the standard modern word for a Buddhist temple, while 宮 was only used for a temple in archaic Japanese.
宮 alone can mean a Shinto shrine but also refers to an imperial prince or princess, whereas お宮 unambiguously means a shrine.
imperial palace; shrine · Grand Empress Dowager; Empress Dowager · imperial mother; elderly imperial woman
grounds of a Shinto shrine
imperial prince's household; princely house
newly born imperial prince · newly constructed branch shrine
young imperial prince; child of the imperial family · shrine dedicated to a child deity of the main shrine · newly built shrine for a transferred tutelary deity
princess
Shinto shrine
shrine/temple carpenter
miyamairi; newborn's first shrine visit · visiting a shrine
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
The kanji 宮 originally depicted a roof over two rooms, representing a large building or palace. The reading みや is native Japanese, likely related to 御 (mi, honorific prefix) and 屋 (ya, house), thus 'honorable house'.
rear shrine; inner shrine
eve of a festival; festival-eve vigil
highest-ranking provincial shrine · first-born imperial prince
second most important provincial shrine · second-born imperial prince
temporary shrine
courtier; court official
court guard; shrine guard
shrine · imperial palace · residing (of an emperor or god)
miniature-shrine maker
parish guild; shrine parishioner organization
prince; princess
box for a shrine or temple amulet