How to Say "Temple" in Japanese

寺

[te̞ɾa̠]

The Japanese word for temple is 寺.

The term is used to refer to a place holding a religious presence, specifically a Buddhist temple.

Meaning: place holding a religious presence (noun)

Which one should you use?

While 寺 refers specifically to a Buddhist temple, the word 神社 is used for Shinto shrines. To be more formal, you can use 寺院.

The word 寺 may have traveled from India to Japan via an ancient Korean word 뎔 'dyeol', which was a local adaptation of a Sanskrit term meaning 'land' or 'domain'.
In Japan, it is common to find a 寺 located directly adjacent to a 神社, a layout resulting from the historical period of 'shinbutsu-shūgō' where the two faiths merged.
Unlike many Western religious sites, a 寺 often has a 'shukubo' or temple lodging, allowing visitors to stay overnight and experience the monks' daily routine.

寺院はどこですか？
Where's the temple?
This sentence is useful for asking for the location of a 寺.
Tatoeba #10049609 by small_snow, translation #9233628 by shekitten
その寺にも行ったよ。
We also went to the temple.
This sentence is useful for describing a visit to a 寺.
Tatoeba #209776 by small_snow, translation #47039 by CK
彼女は寺院を訪れました。
She visited a temple.
This sentence is useful for stating that someone visited a 寺院.
Tatoeba #10049601 by small_snow, translation #2875995 by Amastan
東京にはたくさんのお寺があります
There are many temples in Tokyo.
お勧めのお寺はありますか
Do you have any recommended temples?
49 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two friends are discussing their travel plans in Kyoto.

大翔 Hiroto

明日、どの寺に行く？
Ashita, dono tera ni iku?
Which temple are we going to tomorrow?
結衣 Yui

有名な金閣寺に行きたいな。
Yūmei na Kinkaku-ji ni ikitai na.
I want to go to the famous Golden Pavilion temple.
大翔 Hiroto

いい考えだね。大翔も楽しみだよ。
Ii kangae da ne. Daito mo tanoshimi da yo.
That's a good idea. I'm looking forward to it too.
結衣 Yui

結衣も楽しみ！早く行こう。
Yui mo tanoshimi! Hayaku ikō.
Yui is excited too! Let's go soon.

Sources

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