神 職(しんしょく)

しんしょく

noun

Shinto priest; Shinto clergy

1. Shinto priest; Shinto clergy; shrine priest

A person who serves at a Shinto shrine and performs religious ceremonies, rituals, and other duties. The general term for all ranks of Shinto priesthood.

神職(しんしょく)が祝詞(のりと)を奏上(そうじょう)した。

The Shinto priest recited the ritual prayer.

彼(かれ)は地元(じもと)の神社(じんじゃ)で神職(しんしょく)を務(つと)めている。

He serves as a Shinto priest at the local shrine.

神職(しんしょく)になるには大学(だいがく)で神道(しんとう)を学(まな)ぶのが一般的(いっぱんてき)だ。

To become a Shinto priest, it is common to study Shinto at university.

A compound of 神(しん) (god, divine) + 職(しょく) (occupation, profession). The general term for Shinto religious professionals at any rank.

Common collocations

神職(しんしょく)を務(つと)める: to serve as a Shinto priest
神職(しんしょく)に就(つ)く: to take up the Shinto priesthood
神職(しんしょく)の資格(しかく): qualification as a Shinto priest

Shinto priesthood ranks

宮司(ぐうじ): chief priest — the head priest of a shrine
禰宜(ねぎ): senior priest — second in rank
権禰宜(ごんねぎ): associate priest — a junior priest
巫女(みこ): shrine maiden — a young woman who assists with shrine duties (not technically a 神職(しんしょく))

Similar words

僧侶(そうりょ): Buddhist monk/priest — the equivalent for Buddhism
宮司(ぐうじ): chief priest — specifically the head of a shrine
神主(かんぬし): shrine priest — a more colloquial term, often used interchangeably with 神職(しんしょく)

Related Words

Compare: 僧侶(そうりょ) (Buddhist monk/priest)

Compare: 宮司(ぐうじ) (chief priest)

Compare: 神主(かんぬし) (shrine priest)

general

Added 2026.3.30 0:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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