Japanese word

御手洗

Pronunciation

Romajimitarashi

Meaning

  • nounpurification basin

Example

参拝する前に御手洗で手を清めます。san pai su ru mae ni mitarashi de te o kiyo me ma su

I purify my hands at the purification basin before worshiping.

Illustration for 御手洗 (purification basin)

More examples

御手洗は境内の入り口近くにあります。mitarashi wa kei dai no i ri guchi chika ku ni a ri ma su

The purification basin is near the entrance to the shrine grounds.

Core concept

Refers to a shrine basin associated with cleansing the hands and mouth before a person prays.

Common phrases

  • 御手洗のそばmitarashi no so ba

    beside the purification basin

  • 御手洗へ行くmitarashi e i ku

    go to the purification basin

Similar words

手水鉢chōzubachi: A stone or other basin that contains water for ritual washing at a shrine.

Definition in Japanese

神社の境内などに設けた、参拝前に手や口をすすぐための水盤。jin ja no kei dai na do ni mō ke ta san pai mae ni te ya kuchi o su su gu ta me no sui ban

Word origin

御手洗 (mitarashi) is written with 御 (mi, "honorific"), 手 (te, "hand"), and 洗 (ara, "wash"); the full form has the established shrine reading mitarashi rather than a regular compound reading.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese shrine vocabulary, 御手洗 (mitarashi) names the basin for ritual cleansing, while お手洗い (otearai) commonly means a restroom, despite their similar written forms.

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