Japanese word

参拝

Pronunciation

Romajisanpai

Meaning

  • nounworship

Example

毎年お寺に参拝します。mai toshi o tera ni san pai shi ma su

I worship at a temple every year.

Illustration for 参拝 (worship)

More examples

初詣では、家族と神社への参拝を済ませました。hatsumōde de wa ka zoku to jin ja e no san pai o su ma se ma shi ta

I made my first shrine visit of the year with my family.

Core concept

Centers on going to a sacred site and showing reverence through prayer or worship.

Common phrases

  • 神社への参拝jin ja e no san pai

    worship at a shrine

  • 寺への参拝tera e no san pai

    worship at a temple

  • 参拝をするsan pai o su ru

    worship

Similar words

お参りomairi: The act of visiting a shrine or temple and praying there, in everyday language.
参詣sankei: A formal visit to a sacred place for prayer or worship.
礼拝reihai: The act of showing religious reverence through prayer or respectful gestures.

Definition in Japanese

神社や寺を訪れ、神仏に祈りをささげること。jin ja ya tera o otozu re shin butsu ni ino ri o sa sa ge ru ko to

Word origin

参 (san, "go or visit") combines with 拝 (hai, "worship") in 参拝 (sanpai) to describe going to a religious place for worship.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English worship, this noun can highlight the act of going to a shrine or temple, even when the visit is brief.

Other meanings

  • visitnoun

Related words

  • 参拝者sanpaishaworshipernoun
  • 参拝するsanpaisuruworshipverb

Word lists with this word