Japanese word

神

Pronunciation

Romajikami

Meaning

  • noungod

Example

神に祈ります。kami ni ino ri ma su

I pray to God.

Illustration for 神 (god)

More examples

わたしは神を信じます。wa ta shi wa kami o shin ji ma su

I believe in God.

祭りの前に神へお供えをします。matsu ri no mae ni kami e o sona e o shi ma su

We make an offering to God before the festival.

Core concept

Describes a sacred being or presence believed to possess power beyond ordinary human understanding.

Common phrases

  • 神に祈るkami ni ino ru

    pray to God

  • 神を信じるkami o shin ji ru

    believe in God

Similar words

神様kamisama: A respectful term for a god or other sacred being.

Definition in Japanese

人知を超えた力を持つものとして信仰や畏敬の対象となる存在。jin chi o ko e ta chikara o mo tsu mo no to shi te shin kō ya i kei no tai shō to na ru son zai

Word origin

As a native Japanese word, 神 (kami, "god or spirit") goes back to Old Japanese かみ (kami), although its deeper origin is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • English writing about Shinto and Japanese folklore often keeps kami as a loanword when god or spirit does not fully express the Japanese idea.

Other meanings

  • spiritnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word