Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 僧侶 | sōryo | [so̞ːɾʲo̞] (narrow) |
| 坊さん | bōsan | [bo̞ːsã̠ɴ] (narrow) |
| 修道士 | shūdōshi | [ɕɨːdo̞ːɕi] (narrow) |
| 法師 | hōshi | [ho̞ːɕi] (narrow) |
The choice of word depends heavily on the religious context and the level of formality required. 僧侶 is the standard term used when referring to Buddhist monks in a general sense. In contrast, 修道士 specifically refers to Christian monks or members of religious orders rather than Buddhist monks.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial term 坊さん is composed of 坊 (bo), meaning a temple or priest and さん (san), the polite honorific suffix.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ by register and religious context. 僧侶 is the formal, technical term used in academic or official contexts. 坊さん is a common, colloquial way to refer to a monk in everyday conversation. While 僧侶 is used for Buddhist contexts, 修道士 is used for the Christian context of monks or friars. 法師 is another way to refer to a monk.
How do you pronounce it?
sōryo
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word 坊 (bō) which forms part of 坊さん (bōsan) is also used as a prefix for children, such as in 坊や (bōya) for 'little boy'.
- In some traditional Japanese families, the eldest son is expected to become a 僧侶 to maintain the family temple.
- The 'law' in the term 法師 (hōshi) does not refer to civil law, but to the Buddhist 'Dharma', which is often translated as 'the law' or 'the teachings'.
Examples in context
- トムって、お坊さんなんだよね？Tom is a monk, isn't he?This sentence is useful for confirming someone's occupation using the form 坊さん.Tatoeba #11619725 by small_snow, translation #6898700 by CK
- あの方は誠実な 僧侶 です。That person is a sincere monk.
- 彼は若い僧侶です。Kare wa wakai sōryo desu.He is a young monk.
- その僧侶はとても親切でした。Sono sōryo wa totemo shinsetsu deshita.That monk was very kind.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are visiting a temple in Kyoto.
- 美咲 Misakiあそこにいる人は僧侶ですか？Asoko ni iru hito wa sōryo desu ka?Is that person over there a monk?
- 蓮 Renはい、ここの住職です。Hai, koko no jūshoku desu.Yes, he is the chief priest here.
- 美咲 Misakiとても穏やかな方ですね。Totemo odayaka na kata desu ne.He seems like a very peaceful person.
- 蓮 Ren本当にそう思います。Hontō ni sō omoimasu.I really think so too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “monk” translations and entries 僧侶, 坊さん, 修道士, 法師, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 坊さん, 法師, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
