女祭司
onnasaishi
The English word 'priestess' is translated into Japanese as 女祭司 (onnasaishi). If unsure, use 女祭司. Wiktionary also lists 女教士 (onnakyōshi).
Meaning: woman with religious duties (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 女祭司 | onnasaishi |
| 女教士 | onnakyōshi |
The term refers to a woman who holds religious duties.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 女祭司 is composed of 女 (female), 祭 (ritual/festival) and 司 (to administer/rule), literally meaning 'female priest'.
Which one should you use?
女祭司 is typically used for a woman performing specific ritualistic or administrative duties in a religious context. 女教士 is another way to express the concept of a female priestess. In the specific context of Shintoism, the standard term for a female shrine attendant or priestess is 巫女.
How do you pronounce it?
onnasaishi
Did you know?
- In ancient Japanese history, a 巫女 was not merely a shrine assistant but a central political figure whose oracles could influence government decisions and even the succession of emperors.
- While 女祭司 is the direct linguistic translation for 'priestess', using it in a real Shinto shrine would sound quite unnatural and overly academic to a Japanese person.
- The word 祭 in 女祭司 is the same character used in 'matsuri', which refers to festivals that have become major cultural celebrations for the general public.
Examples in context
- 「巫女さんは神聖な儀式を行います。」The priestess performs sacred rituals.
- 「彼女はシャーマンとしての役割を担っています。」She takes on the role of a priestess.
- 伝説では、その女祭司が村を守っています。Densetsu de wa, sono onmisaishi ga mura o mamotte imasu.In the legend, that priestess protects the village.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are visiting an ancient temple.
- 健太 Kentaあそこにいる人は女祭司ですか？Asoko ni iru hito wa onnamajishi desu ka?Is that person over there a priestess?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、この神社の女祭司です。Hai, kono jinja no onnamajishi desu.Yes, she is the priestess of this shrine.
- 健太 Kenta衣装がとても素敵ですね。Ishō ga totemo suteki desu ne.Her outfit is very lovely, isn't it?
- 美咲 Misaki本当に伝統的な格好ですね。Hontō ni dentōtekina kakkō desu ne.It really is a traditional look.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “priestess” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
