1.
religious precepts; commandments; moral or religious rules
Rules of conduct prescribed by a religion, particularly the disciplinary rules observed by Buddhist monks and nuns, or more broadly, any set of religious commandments.
僧侶は厳しい戒律を守る。
Monks observe strict religious precepts.
その宗教には食事に関する戒律がある。
That religion has precepts concerning food.
戒律を破った僧侶は寺から追放された。
The monk who broke the precepts was expelled from the temple.
Composed of 戒 (admonition, precept) + 律 (law, rule). Originally a Buddhist term: 戒 refers to moral rules one voluntarily accepts, while 律 refers to rules imposed by the monastic community. Together they encompass the full body of religious discipline.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 戒律を守る — to observe/keep religious precepts
- 戒律を破る — to break religious precepts
- 厳しい戒律 — strict precepts
- 戒律に従う — to follow religious precepts
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 教え — teachings (more general; any religious or moral teaching)
- 掟 — rules, code (secular or religious rules of a group)
- 十戒 — the Ten Commandments
- 五戒 — the Five Precepts (basic Buddhist ethical guidelines)
CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japanese Buddhism, the 五戒 (Five Precepts) — not to kill, steal, lie, commit sexual misconduct, or consume intoxicants — are the most widely known. However, the strictness of observance varies greatly among Japanese Buddhist sects.