Readings: ジ (Onyomi), てら (Kunyomi)
Meaning: temple
The character 寺 originally depicted a hand holding an object, possibly a tool, near a foot or a piece of land, evolving to represent a place of worship or an office. Its original meaning was “eunuch” or “to hold”, later becoming associated with Buddhist temples.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 寺 begins with the vertical stroke on the left, followed by the horizontal and then the bending stroke on the right. Then the two short strokes on the top right, and finally the last long horizontal stroke at the bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 寸 (sun) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 6 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ジ (ji)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- てら (tera)
Common Words Using 寺
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 寺院 | じいん | temple; monastery |
| 古寺 | こじ | old temple |
| 禅寺 | ぜんじ | Zen temple |
| 東大寺 | とうだいじ | Tōdai-ji temple (famous temple in Nara) |
| 寺社 | じしゃ | temples and shrines |
| 山寺 | やまでら | mountain temple |
| 寺宝 | じほう | temple treasures |
| 寺伝 | じでん | temple tradition/legend |
| 寺紋 | じもん | temple crest |
| 寺域 | じいき | temple precincts |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 寺 | てら | temple |
| お寺 | おてら | temple (polite) |
| 寺子屋 | てらこや | private elementary school (Edo period) |
| 寺請制度 | てらうけせいど | temple affiliation system (historical) |
| 寺侍 | てらざむらい | temple samurai (historical) |
| 寺守 | てらもり | temple caretaker |
| 寺泊 | てらどまり | staying at a temple |
| 寺巡り | てらめぐり | temple visit/tour |
| 寺請証文 | てらうけしょうもん | temple certificate (historical) |
| 寺法 | てらほう | temple law/custom |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 私は京都の古いお寺を訪れました。
Kana: わたしはきょうとのふるいおてらをたずねました。
Romaji: Watashi wa Kyōto no furui o-tera o tazunemashita.
English: I visited an old temple in Kyoto.
Japanese: 寺には美しい庭があります。
Kana: てらにはうつくしいにわがあります。
Romaji: Tera ni wa utsukushii niwa ga arimasu.
English: The temple has a beautiful garden.
Japanese: 毎日、多くの人がお寺にお参りに行きます。
Kana: まいにち、おおくのひとがおてらにおまいりにいきます。
Romaji: Mainichi, ōku no hito ga o-tera ni omairi ni ikimasu.
English: Many people go to the temple to worship every day.
Japanese: その寺は山の頂上に建てられています。
Kana: そのてらはやまのちょうじょうにたてられています。
Romaji: Sono tera wa yama no chōjō ni taterarete imasu.
English: That temple is built on top of the mountain.
Japanese: 彼は小さい頃、寺子屋で勉強しました。
Kana: かれはちいさいころ、てらこやでべんきょうしました。
Romaji: Kare wa chiisai koro, terakoya de benkyō shimashita.
English: He studied at a private elementary school when he was little.
Japanese: このお寺は歴史が長いです。
Kana: このおてらはれきしがながいです。
Romaji: Kono o-tera wa rekishi ga nagai desu.
English: This temple has a long history.
Japanese: 寺院は日本の文化に深く根付いています。
Kana: じいんはにほんのぶんかにふかくねづいています。
Romaji: Jiin wa Nihon no bunka ni fukaku nedzuite imasu.
English: Temples are deeply rooted in Japanese culture.
Japanese: 寺の鐘の音が聞こえます。
Kana: てらのかねのおとがきこえます。
Romaji: Tera no kane no oto ga kikoemasu.
English: I can hear the sound of the temple bell.
Japanese: お寺の近くに住んでいます。
Kana: おてらのちかくにすんでいます。
Romaji: O-tera no chikaku ni sunde imasu.
English: I live near a temple.
Japanese: 彼女は寺で座禅を組みました。
Kana: かのじょはてらでざぜんをくみました。
Romaji: Kanojo wa tera de zazen o kumimashita.
English: She practiced Zen meditation at the temple.
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