慰 霊 碑(いれいひ)

いれいひ

noun

memorial monument; cenotaph

1. memorial monument; cenotaph; memorial stone

A stone monument or marker erected to commemorate and console the spirits of the deceased, especially victims of war, disasters, or accidents.

慰霊碑(いれいひ)の前(まえ)で祈(いの)った。

I prayed in front of the memorial monument.

戦没者(せんぼつしゃ)のための慰霊碑(いれいひ)が建(た)てられた。

A memorial monument was erected for those who died in the war.

毎年(まいとし)八月(はちがつ)になると、広島(ひろしま)の慰霊碑(いれいひ)には多(おお)くの人(ひと)が花(はな)を手向(たむ)ける。

Every August, many people lay flowers at the memorial monument in Hiroshima.

Composed of 慰霊(いれい) (consolation of spirits; memorial) + 碑(ひ) (stone monument). Deeply connected to Japanese memorial culture, especially post-war remembrance. Found at battle sites, disaster locations, and places of historical tragedy. The concept of 慰霊(いれい) reflects the belief in consoling the spirits of the dead so they may rest in peace.

Common collocations

慰霊碑(いれいひ)を建(た)てる: to erect a memorial monument
慰霊碑(いれいひ)に花(はな)を供(そな)える: to offer flowers at a memorial
慰霊碑(いれいひ)の前(まえ)で黙祷(もくとう)する: to observe a moment of silence at a memorial
戦没者(せんぼつしゃ)慰霊碑(いれいひ): war dead memorial

Similar words

記念碑(きねんひ): monument; commemorative stele — broader; can commemorate any event or achievement, not necessarily death
墓石(ぼせき): gravestone; tombstone — marks an individual grave rather than serving as a collective memorial
慰霊祭(いれいさい): memorial service — the ceremony rather than the physical monument

Related Words

Compare: 墓石(ぼせき) (gravestone)

Compare: 慰霊祭(いれいさい) (memorial service)

general

Added 2026.4.26 0:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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