神社
jinja[d͡ʑĩɲ̟d͡ʑa̠]
The English word "shrine" can be translated into Japanese as 神社 (jinja) or 聖地 (seichi).
Meaning: a holy place dedicated to a specific figure of respect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 神社 | jinja | [d͡ʑĩɲ̟d͡ʑa̠] (narrow) [ka̠mʲija̠ɕiɾo̞] (narrow) |
| 聖地 | seichi | [se̞ːt͡ɕi] (narrow) |
神社 refers specifically to a Shinto shrine. While 神社 is the standard term for these religious sites, you may encounter other terms based on scale and importance: Gū (宮) is used for larger, more important shrines dedicated to significant deities, while Hokora (祠) refers to smaller, more humble shrines often found in private homes or rural areas.
Which one should you use?
Use 神社 (jinja) specifically when referring to Shinto shrines. Use 聖地 (seichi) when you want to refer more generally to a holy site or a sacred place.
How do you pronounce it?
jinja
When do people say it?
When visiting a 神社, it is customary to perform a specific ritual of bowing and clapping to show respect to the deity.
Did you know?
- The word 聖地 (seichi) is used in modern Japanese to describe the 'holy land' of fictional settings, such as the setting of an anime or a film.
- At a 神社, the gate called a 鳥居 (torii) marks the boundary between the profane world and the sacred space. Visitors are encouraged to walk along the sides of the path rather than the center, as the center is reserved for the deity.
- Many 神社 are dedicated to specific animals or nature spirits, such as foxes at Inari shrines. These animals are seen as messengers of the gods rather than deities themselves.
Examples in context
- この道は神社へ通じていますよ。This path will lead you to the shrine.This sentence is useful for describing a path that leads to a 神社.Tatoeba #220300 by KK_kaku_, translation #57620 by sundown
- その神社は２００年前に建てられた。The shrine was built two hundred years ago.This sentence is useful for describing the age of a 神社.Tatoeba #208795 by KK_kaku_, translation #46054 by CK
- １月１日は多くの日本人が神社にお参りする日です。January 1st is a day when many Japanese go to the shrine.This sentence is useful for describing the custom of visiting a 神社 on January 1st.Tatoeba #235808 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #73188 by CK
- 明治神宮は東京にある有名な神社です。Meiji Shrine is a famous shrine located in Tokyo.
- 伊勢神宮の内宮は一番大事な神殿です。The Naiku at Ise Jingu is the most important shrine building.
- 今日、近くの神社でお祭りがあるんだ。There's a festival at the nearby shrine today.
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is walking through a traditional town.
- 陽太 Yota結衣、あの神社を見て。Yui, ano jinja o mite.Yui, look at that shrine.
- 結衣 Yui本当だ、すごく綺麗だね。Hontou da, sugoku kirei da ne.You're right, it's very beautiful.
- 陽太 Yota中に入ってみる？Naka ni haitte miru?Shall we go inside?
- 結衣 Yuiうん、ぜひ行きたい！Un, zehi ikitai!Yes, I'd love to go!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shrine” translations and entries 神社, 聖地, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
