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.
お寺の住職に挨拶した。
I greeted the temple's head priest.
住職がお経を唱えてくれた。
The head priest chanted a sutra for us.
この寺の住職は代々同じ家系が務めてきた。
The head priest position at this temple has been held by the same family for generations.
USAGE:
住職 specifically refers to the chief priest of a Buddhist temple (寺). The word literally means "one who resides and serves" — the priest who lives at and is responsible for the temple.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 住職を務める (to serve as head priest)
- 住職に就任する (to become head priest)
- お寺の住職 (the temple's head priest)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 僧侶: Buddhist monk/priest (general term)
- 神主: Shinto priest (for shrines, not temples)
- 和尚: Buddhist priest (honorific/informal term)