Japanese word

祭る

Pronunciation

Romajimatsuru

Meaning

  • verbenshrine

Example

この神社では、山の神を祭ります。ko no jin ja de wa yama no kami o matsu ri ma su

At this shrine, people enshrine the mountain god.

Illustration for 祭る (enshrine)

More examples

この寺では、開祖を祭っています。ko no tera de wa kai so o matsu tte i ma su

This temple enshrines its founder.

Core concept

It treats a deity, ancestor, or natural force as sacred by honoring it in rites or placing it in a shrine.

Common phrases

  • 仏を祭るfutsu o matsu ru

    enshrine a Buddha

  • 先祖を祭るsen zo o matsu ru

    enshrine one's ancestors

  • 神を祭るkami o matsu ru

    enshrine a god

  • 故人を祭るko jin o matsu ru

    enshrine the deceased

Definition in Japanese

神仏や祖先などを神聖なものとしてあがめ、社などに安置して儀式を行う。shin butsu ya so sen na do o shin sei na mo no to shi te a ga me sha na do ni an chi shi te gi shiki o okona u

Word origin

The Japanese native verb 祭る (matsuru, "to worship") forms the noun 祭り (matsuri, "ritual") through its continuative stem, linking the verb with rites for deities and ancestors.

Usage tips

  • English enshrine also means to preserve an idea in law or an institution, but 祭る (matsuru) is used for religious honoring rather than for protecting an abstract principle.

Other meanings

  • deifyverb

Related words

Word lists with this word