Japanese word

祈願

Pronunciation

Romajikigan

Meaning

  • nounprayer

Example

家族の健康を祈願します。ka zoku no ken kō o ki gan shi ma su

I pray for my family's health.

Illustration for 祈願 (prayer)

More examples

毎年、地域の安全を祈願する祭りが開かれます。mai toshi chi iki no an zen o ki gan su ru matsu ri ga hira ka re ma su

A festival is held every year to pray for the safety of the community.

Core concept

Expresses the act of entrusting a strongly desired outcome to a deity or sacred power through prayer.

Common phrases

  • 合格祈願gō kaku ki gan

    prayer for success in exams

  • 家内安全祈願ka nai an zen ki gan

    prayer for family safety

  • 商売繁盛祈願shō bai han jō ki gan

    prayer for business prosperity

Similar words

祈りinori: Words or an act of prayer directed toward a deity or sacred power.
願いnegai: Something desired and expressed as a hope or request.
お願いonegai: A courteous request made to another person or a higher power.
願掛けgankake: A ritual act of praying for a particular wish to come true.

Definition in Japanese

実現を望む事柄を神仏に祈って願うこと。jitsu gen o nozo mu koto gara o shin butsu ni ino tte nega u ko to

Word origin

祈願 (kigan) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 祈 (ki, "pray") and 願 (gan, "wish"), linking an act of prayer to a desired result.

Usage tips

  • Compared with the everyday word お願い (onegai), 祈願 (kigan) has a formal tone and commonly names prayers offered at shrines and temples.

Other meanings

  • supplicationnoun

Related words

  • 祈願するkigansurupray forverb
  • 祈願者kiganshasupplicantnoun

Word lists with this word