1.
sacred boundary, spiritual barrier
In Buddhism, a ritually defined area that marks the boundary of a sacred space, keeping impurity out and sanctity in. Used at temples and during religious ceremonies.
寺の結界を越えてはならない。
You must not cross the temple's sacred boundary.
僧侶が結界を張って聖域を守った。
The monk put up a barrier to protect the sacred ground.
この場所には古くから結界が設けられていると言われている。
It is said that a sacred boundary has been set at this place since ancient times.
2.
magical barrier, force field
In anime, manga, and games, a supernatural protective barrier that blocks enemies or contains power. This is the more widely known meaning among younger speakers.
結界を張れ！
Put up a barrier!
敵の攻撃を結界で防いだ。
I blocked the enemy's attack with a barrier.
魔法使いが強力な結界を張って町を守った。
The wizard put up a powerful barrier to protect the town.
USAGE:
The original Buddhist sense refers to a ritually purified boundary. In modern pop culture, the word has become extremely common in anime and manga to mean a magical force field or protective barrier. The key collocation 結界を張る (to put up a barrier) is used in both senses.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Buddhist terminology. 結 means "to bind" and 界 means "boundary" — a bound or established boundary separating sacred from profane space.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 結界を張る: put up a barrier
- 結界を破る: break through a barrier
- 結界を解く: release a barrier
- 結界の中: inside the barrier