神道
shintō[ɕĩnto̞ː]
Shinto is the name of the Japanese religion, referred to as 神道 (shintō).
The term refers to the indigenous religion of Japan, often focusing on the veneration of nature and spirits.
Meaning: religion (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 神 (kami/god/spirit) and 道 (dō/way or path), meaning "the way of the gods".
How do you pronounce it?
shintō
Did you know?
- In Japan, it is common for people to follow both shinto and Buddhism simultaneously, often using shinto for birth and marriage rituals and Buddhism for funerals.
- The term 'way' in 神道 comes from the same Chinese character used in 'Taoism', though the two traditions are distinct and evolved separately in Japan.
- The character for kami in shinto is a homonym for the Japanese word for 'paper', though they are written with different characters.
Examples in context
- 神道でいう神は無数にあり、初めは自然物や自然現象をも神としていた。All natural objects and phenomena used to be considered as having kami, so the gods of Shinto were uncountably numerous.This sentence is useful for discussing how natural objects and phenomena were historically considered to have kami in relation to 神道.Tatoeba #1018176 by yurusu, translation #1018178 by yurusu
- 12月24日から10日間、たいていの日本人はキリスト教、仏教、神道と教えを変遷していく。Throughout the 10 days following December 24th, many Japanese people will quickly shift from Christian to Buddhist to Shinto teachings.This sentence is useful for describing how Japanese people may transition between Christian, Buddhist and 神道 teachings during December.Tatoeba #182232 by sugisaki, translation #11827796 by nana2capriccio
- 神道の最も大事な行事は初詣で、多くの人々が新年に神社に詣で、1年の幸福と健康を祈ります。The most important Shinto event takes place in the New Year, when millions of people visit shrines to pray for happiness and a healthy year.This sentence is useful for explaining the importance of the New Year event for 神道.Tatoeba #1018185 by yurusu, translation #1018186 by yurusu
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are discussing Japanese culture.
- 蓮 Ren神道についてもっと知りたいです。Shintō ni tsuite motto shiritai desu.I want to know more about Shinto.
- 陽葵 Himari神道は日本の伝統的な宗教ですよ。Shintō wa Nihon no dentōtekina shūkyō desu yo.Shinto is a traditional Japanese religion.
- 蓮 Ren神社に行けば神道が分かりますか？Jinja ni ikeba Shintō ga wakarimasu ka?Will I understand Shinto if I go to a shrine?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、ぜひ一緒に行きましょう。Hai, zehi issho ni ikimashō.Yes, let's definitely go together.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shinto” translations and entries 神道, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 神道, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
