Japanese word

地蔵

Pronunciation

Romajijizō

Meaning

  • nounJizo

Example

道のそばに地蔵があります。michi no so ba ni ji zō ga a ri ma su

There is a Jizo statue beside the road.

Illustration for 地蔵 (Jizo)

More examples

子どもたちは道端の地蔵に手を合わせました。ko do mo ta chi wa michi bata no ji zō ni te o a wa se ma shi ta

The children put their hands together in prayer before the Jizo statue by the roadside.

Core concept

Refers to a Buddhist bodhisattva whose image serves as a familiar guardian for people in vulnerable situations.

Common phrases

  • 地蔵に手を合わせるji zō ni te o a wa se ru

    pray before a Jizo statue

  • 地蔵を拝むji zō o oga mu

    worship a Jizo statue

Similar words

地蔵尊jizōson: A respectful title for the Buddhist bodhisattva or an image of that figure.
地蔵菩薩jizōbosatsu: The formal Buddhist name of the bodhisattva represented by guardian statues.
お地蔵さんojizōsan: A familiar and respectful term for a roadside statue of the bodhisattva.

Definition in Japanese

仏教で、旅人や子どもなどを守るとされる菩薩、またはその像。buk kyō de tabi bito ya ko do mo na do o mamo ru to sa re ru bo satsu ma ta wa so no zō

Word origin

The word 地蔵 (jizō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 地 (ji, "earth") and 蔵 (zō, "storehouse") and names the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha.

Usage tips

  • Small roadside statues of this bodhisattva in Japan are often dressed with red bibs, making the word easy to connect with village paths and temple grounds.

Word lists with this word