神主(かんぬし)

かんぬし
noun
Shinto priest
1. Shinto priest, shrine priest
A priest who serves at a Shinto shrine, performing rituals, prayers, and ceremonies. The head priest of a shrine.
神主(かんぬし)が祝詞(のりと)をあげた。
The Shinto priest recited a prayer.
神社(じんじゃ)の神主(かんぬし)にお祓(はら)いをしてもらった。
I had the shrine priest perform a purification ritual for me.
代々(だいだい)神主(かんぬし)を務(つと)める家系(かけい)だ。
It is a family line that has served as Shinto priests for generations.

A Shinto priest who serves at a 神社(じんじゃ) (shrine), performing rituals, prayers, and ceremonies. This is the most common everyday term for a shrine priest.

ETYMOLOGY:
神(かん) (god/deity) + 主(ぬし) (master/owner). Literally "master of the gods" — the person responsible for serving the shrine's deity.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 神主(かんぬし)に祝詞(のりと)をあげてもらう: have the priest recite prayers
  • 神主(かんぬし)にお祓(はら)いをしてもらう: have the priest perform purification

RELATED TERMS:

  • 宮司(ぐうじ): chief priest of a shrine (formal title used in shrine hierarchy)
  • 神職(しんしょく): Shinto clergy (collective/formal term)
  • 巫女(みこ): shrine maiden
  • 住職(じゅうしょく): Buddhist temple priest (different religion)

神主(かんぬし) is casual/everyday; 宮司(ぐうじ) is the official title within the shrine ranking system.

general
Added 2026.3.14 13:25 · Revised 2026.3.25 21:24
16500/16732_kannushi