禰宜(ねぎ)

ねぎ
noun
senior Shinto priest; shrine priest
religionculture
1. senior Shinto priest; shrine priest (second rank)
A Shinto priesthood rank, second in the hierarchy below the chief priest. Responsible for assisting in shrine rituals and administration.
禰宜(ねぎ)が祝詞(のりと)を奏上(そうじょう)した。
The shrine priest recited a Shinto prayer.
彼(かれ)は地元(じもと)の神社(じんじゃ)で禰宜(ねぎ)を務(つと)めている。
He serves as a senior priest at the local shrine.
禰宜(ねぎ)は宮司(ぐうじ)を補佐(ほさ)し、日々(ひび)の祭祀(さいし)や神社(じんじゃ)の運営(うんえい)に携(たずさ)わる重要(じゅうよう)な役職(やくしょく)だ。
The negi is an important position that assists the chief priest and is involved in daily rituals and shrine management.

An ancient Shinto term. The word originally comes from 労(ねぎら)う (to console/comfort), reflecting the priest's role as an intermediary who comforts and serves the gods.

The Shinto priest hierarchy at most shrines is:

  • 宮司(ぐうじ): chief priest (head of the shrine)
  • 禰宜(ねぎ): senior priest (second rank)
  • 権禰宜(ごんねぎ): assistant priest (third rank)

Small shrines may have only a 宮司(ぐうじ) and no 禰宜(ねぎ), while large shrines like Ise Jingu may have many priests at each level. The word is also a common Japanese surname.

Not to be confused with the homophone 葱(ねぎ) (green onion).

Common collocations

Related words

Related Words

Related: 宮司(ぐうじ) (chief priest of a Shinto shrine)
Related: 神主(かんぬし) (Shinto priest)
Related: 巫女(みこ) (shrine maiden)
general
Added 2026.4.22 18:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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