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.
和尚さんにお経をあげてもらった。
The priest chanted a sutra for us.
この寺の和尚は話が上手だ。
The priest at this temple is a good storyteller.
和尚さんに人生の悩みを相談したら、心が軽くなった。
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, 和尚さん (with the polite さん suffix) is the most common form, used much like calling someone "Father" in Christianity.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 和尚さん: priest (polite, everyday form)
- お寺の和尚: the temple priest
- 和尚の説法: the priest's sermon
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 住職: chief priest of a temple — the official title for the head priest
- 僧侶: Buddhist monk/priest — formal, general term for any ordained member
- 坊さん: monk/priest — casual, everyday term
- 尼: Buddhist nun — the female counterpart