Japanese word

住職

Pronunciation

Romajijūshoku

Meaning

  • nounchief priest

Example

私はこの寺の住職です。watashi wa ko no tera no jū shoku de su

I am the chief priest of this temple.

Illustration for 住職 (chief priest)

More examples

父の後を継いで、住職になりました。chichi no ato o tsu i de jū shoku ni na ri ma shi ta

I took over from my father and became the chief priest.

Core concept

Describes the Buddhist priest who serves as the resident head and manages the affairs of a temple.

Common phrases

  • 住職を務めるjū shoku o tsuto me ru

    serve as chief priest

  • 住職になるjū shoku ni na ru

    become a chief priest

  • 住職を退くjū shoku o shirizo ku

    step down as chief priest

Similar words

住持jūji: The Buddhist priest who resides at and oversees a temple.
和尚oshō: A respectful term for a Buddhist priest, often used for the priest in charge of a temple.
僧侶sōryo: A Buddhist religious practitioner who has entered the priesthood.

Definition in Japanese

仏教寺院に住み、寺務を管理して仏事を行う中心的な僧。buk kyō ji in ni su mi ji mu o kan ri shi te butsu ji o okona u chū shin teki na sō

Word origin

住職 (jūshoku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 住 (jū, "reside") and 職 (shoku, "position or duty"), naming the priest who occupies a temple's resident position.

Usage tips

  • A 住職 (jūshoku) is not simply any Buddhist priest at a temple, since the title marks the person who serves as its head priest.

Word lists with this word