1.
cathedral; great cathedral
A large, important church that serves as the seat of a bishop, or more broadly, any grand and historically significant church building.
Composed of 大 (great) + 聖堂 (sacred hall/church). Refers specifically to large, historically significant churches, particularly European cathedrals.
Common collocations
- ゴシック大聖堂: Gothic cathedral
- 大聖堂を訪れる: to visit a cathedral
- 大聖堂の内部: the interior of a cathedral
- 大聖堂の尖塔: a cathedral spire
Related words
- 聖堂: church, chapel — a smaller or more general sacred building
- 礼拝堂: chapel, prayer hall — a smaller place of worship
- 教会: church — the most common general term for a Christian church
Cultural note
Japan has no medieval cathedrals of its own, so this word is primarily encountered when discussing European architecture, travel, history, and literature. Famous examples often referenced in Japanese media include ノートルダム大聖堂 (Notre-Dame Cathedral) and ケルン大聖堂 (Cologne Cathedral).