1.
baptism; christening
Religious sacrament
2.
initiation; ordeal; baptism by fire
Figurative: a challenging first experience
Originally a Christian religious term for the sacrament of baptism. In Japanese, the figurative sense of a harsh or transformative first experience is used much more commonly than the religious sense.
Common collocations
- 洗礼を受ける: to receive baptism; to undergo an initiation
- 洗礼を浴びる: to be hit with an ordeal (figurative)
- 洗礼名: baptismal name
- 洗礼式: baptism ceremony
- 社会の洗礼: the baptism of the real world
Usage
The figurative sense 2 is far more common in everyday Japanese. It typically describes a newcomer's difficult first encounter with something — a new job, a new environment, or harsh reality. The phrase 洗礼を受ける works for both senses.