神
kami[ka̠mʲi]
The English word 'deity' is translated into Japanese as 神 (kami).
The word 神 (kami) is used broadly to refer to gods, goddesses, spirits or even natural forces in Shintoism. The term Shin can be used to express 'deity'.
Meaning: a god or goddess (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
kami
Did you know?
- The honorific prefix mi-, used to show respect to high-status objects, was originally a term used specifically for kami.
- The word 神 is a cognate of the Ainu word kamuy, which refers to the divine spirits in the indigenous culture of northern Japan.
- When kami is used in a compound word, its sound often changes to kan- or kamu-, similar to how 'eye' changes from me to ma in certain Japanese words.
Examples in context
- この森には古い神が住んでいる。Kono mori ni wa furui kami ga sunde iru.An ancient deity lives in this forest.
- 彼は神として崇められている。Kare wa kami to shite agamerarete iru.He is revered as a deity.
- 海の神に祈りを捧げました。Umi no kami ni inori o sasagemashita.I offered a prayer to the deity of the sea.
Example conversation
Two friends are visiting a traditional shrine.
- 陽葵 Himariこの神社にはどんな神様がいるの？Kono jinja ni wa donna kamisama ga iru no?What kind of deity is at this shrine?
- 蓮 Ren豊作をもたらす神様だよ。Housaku o motarasu kamisama da yo.It is the deity that brings a good harvest.
- 陽葵 Himari素敵ね。私もお祈りしましょう。Suteki ne. Watashi mo oinori shimashou.That's lovely. I will pray too.
- 蓮 Ren静かに、神様の前だからね。Shizuka ni, kamisama no mae dakara ne.Be quiet, because we are in front of the deity.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “deity” translations and entries 神, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 神, CC BY-SA 4.0.
