Japanese word

宗教

Pronunciation

Romajishūkyō

Meaning

  • nounreligion

Example

私は宗教について勉強します。watashi wa shū kyō ni tsu i te ben kyō shi ma su

I study religion.

Illustration for 宗教 (religion)

More examples

国によって、宗教の習慣は異なります。kuni ni yo tte shū kyō no shū kan wa koto na ri ma su

Religious customs differ from country to country.

Core concept

Describes a shared system of beliefs and practices that connects views about the sacred with ways of understanding life and guiding conduct.

Common phrases

  • 宗教について話すshū kyō ni tsu i te hana su

    talk about religion

  • 宗教を学ぶshū kyō o mana bu

    learn about religion

  • 宗教の自由shū kyō no ji yū

    religious freedom

Similar words

信仰shinkō: A personal belief in and devotion to a sacred power or religious teaching.

Definition in Japanese

神や仏などの超自然的な存在や力への信仰をもとに、教えや儀礼によって人の生き方や世界の意味を示す体系。kami ya futsu na do no chō shi zen teki na son zai ya chikara e no shin kō o mo to ni oshi e ya gi rei ni yo tte hito no i ki kata ya se kai no i mi o shime su tai kei

Word origin

宗教 (shūkyō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 宗 (shū, "religious tradition") and 教 (kyō, "teaching").

Usage tips

  • In English, religion can refer both to an organized tradition and to a person's faith, so context shows whether the focus is the group or the belief.

Opposites

  • 無宗教mushūkyōnonreligionnoun

Related words

  • 宗教的shūkyōtekireligiousna-adjective

Word lists with this word