和尚(おしょう)

おしょう
noun
Buddhist priest; monk; abbot
religionperson
1. Buddhist priest; monk; abbot; head priest of a temple
A senior Buddhist priest, particularly the head or chief priest of a temple. Also used informally to refer to any Buddhist priest.
和尚(おしょう)さんにお経(きょう)をあげてもらった。
The priest chanted a sutra for us.
この寺(てら)の和尚(おしょう)は話(はなし)が上手(じょうず)だ。
The priest at this temple is a good storyteller.
和尚(おしょう)さんに人生(じんせい)の悩(なや)みを相談(そうだん)したら、心(こころ)が軽(かる)くなった。
When I talked to the priest about my life troubles, I felt relieved.

The reading varies by Buddhist sect: おしょう is standard (especially Zen), but かしょう (Tendai/Shingon) and わじょう (other sects) are also used. In everyday speech, 和尚(おしょう)さん (with the polite さん suffix) is the most common form, used much like calling someone "Father" in Christianity.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 住職(じゅうしょく): chief priest of a temple — the official title for the head priest
  • 僧侶(そうりょ): Buddhist monk/priest — formal, general term for any ordained member
  • 坊(ぼう)さん: monk/priest — casual, everyday term
  • 尼(あま): Buddhist nun — the female counterpart

Related Words

Compare: 住職(じゅうしょく) (chief priest of a temple)
Compare: 僧侶(そうりょ) (Buddhist monk/priest)
general
Added 2026.4.2 10:37 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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