住 職(じゅうしょく)

じゅうしょく

noun

chief priest of a Buddhist temple

1. chief priest; head priest of a Buddhist temple

The priest who resides at and manages a Buddhist temple. The term implies that the priest lives at the temple and is responsible for its religious activities and upkeep.

お寺(てら)の住職(じゅうしょく)に挨拶(あいさつ)した。

I greeted the temple's head priest.

住職(じゅうしょく)がお経(きょう)を唱(とな)えてくれた。

The head priest chanted a sutra for us.

この寺(てら)の住職(じゅうしょく)は代々(だいだい)同(おな)じ家系(かけい)が務(つと)めてきた。

The head priest position at this temple has been held by the same family for generations.

Usage

住職(じゅうしょく) specifically refers to the chief priest of a Buddhist temple (寺(てら)). The word literally means "one who resides and serves" — the priest who lives at and is responsible for the temple.

Common collocations

住職(じゅうしょく)を務(つと)める (to serve as head priest)
住職(じゅうしょく)に就任(しゅうにん)する (to become head priest)
お寺(てら)の住職(じゅうしょく) (the temple's head priest)

Similar words

僧侶(そうりょ): Buddhist monk/priest (general term)
神主(かんぬし): Shinto priest (for shrines, not temples)
和尚(おしょう): Buddhist priest (honorific/informal term)

Related Words

Related: 僧侶(そうりょ) (Buddhist monk/priest (general))

Compare: 神主(かんぬし) (Shinto priest)

Compare: 和尚(おしょう) (Buddhist priest)

general

Added 2026.3.7 18:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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