temple; monk's quarters
Honorific term for a Buddhist temple or the living quarters of a monk. Used to show respect when referring to a temple or its residential area.
That temple is a historic one.
Honorific way to refer to a Buddhist monk. Often used when speaking to or about a monk with respect.
We had the monk chant sutras for us.
Standard kanji spelling for this honorific Buddhist term.
Rarely used kanji form; 坊 is the usual character.
The prefix 御 (ご) is an honorific, and 坊 (ぼう) means 'monk's quarters' or 'monk'. The combination forms a respectful term for a temple or monk.