神霊(しんれい)

しんれい
noun
divine spirit; sacred spirit
1. divine spirit; sacred spirit
the spirit of a deity or a revered, spiritually powerful presence
この山(やま)には神霊(しんれい)が宿(やど)ると言(い)われている。
It is said that a divine spirit dwells in this mountain.
神霊(しんれい)を祀(まつ)る儀式(ぎしき)が行(おこな)われた。
A ceremony to enshrine the divine spirit was held.
古来(こらい)より日本人(にほんじん)は自然(しぜん)の中(なか)に神霊(しんれい)の存在(そんざい)を感(かん)じてきた。
Since ancient times, the Japanese have sensed the presence of divine spirits in nature.

Refers to the spirit of a god or sacred being in Japanese religious tradition (both Shinto and Buddhism). Distinguished from ghosts of the dead — this specifically denotes a spirit of divine or holy nature. Commonly encountered in texts about shrines, temples, and Japanese spirituality.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 神霊(しんれい)を祀(まつ)る: to enshrine a divine spirit
  • 神霊(しんれい)が宿(やど)る: a divine spirit dwells (in a place)
  • 神霊(しんれい)崇拝(すうはい): worship of divine spirits

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 心霊(しんれい): psychic/supernatural — same pronunciation but refers to ghosts and paranormal phenomena rather than divine beings
  • 御霊(みたま): spirit of the deceased — honorific term for the soul of a dead person, often used at shrines
  • 精霊(せいれい): spirit/fairy — nature spirits or spirits of the dead (in Buddhist context, the Obon spirits)
  • 神(かみ): god/deity — the deity itself rather than its spiritual essence
general
Added 2026.4.19 19:09
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