Japanese Conversation · Level 104
60 words
Japanese word
境内
Pronunciation
Romajikeidai
Meaning
- noungrounds
Example
神社の境内は静かです。jin ja no kei dai wa shizu ka de su
The shrine grounds are quiet.
More examples
祭りの日は境内に屋台が並びます。matsu ri no hi wa kei dai ni ya tai ga nara bi ma su
Food stalls line the grounds on festival days.
Core concept
Refers to 境内 (keidai) as the whole precinct enclosed by a shrine or temple boundary, rather than to one building alone.
Common phrases
神社の境内jin ja no kei dai
shrine grounds
寺の境内tera no kei dai
temple grounds
境内に入るkei dai ni hai ru
enter the grounds
Similar words
境内地keidaichi: Land that forms the official precinct of a shrine or temple.
Definition in Japanese
神社や寺院の境界の内側に広がる建物や敷地の全体。jin ja ya ji in no kyō kai no uchi gawa ni hiro ga ru tate mono ya shiki chi no zen tai
Word origin
The compound 境内 (keidai) is formed from 境 (kyō, "boundary") and 内 (dai, "inside"), expressing the area within a sacred site's boundary.
Usage tips
- English signs and guides often use "shrine grounds" or "temple grounds" for 境内 (keidai), while "ground" in the singular usually refers to soil or land as a material.
Opposites
- 境外sakaigaioutside the groundsnoun