What is the Kanji for "Spirit" and "God"?

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "Spirit" and "God", you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for "Spirit" and "God" is "神".

This kanji has 4 readings:

Its kunyomi readings are "Kami" and "Kagu".

Its onyomi readings are "Jin" and "Shin".

kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.

If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 2 parts:

The radical "礻" means "Cult" . And The kanji "申" means "Report" and can be read as "Shin" and "Mou".

Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.

What does the kanji "神" mean in japanese?

"神" means "Spirit" and "God".

Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N3 exam.

Here are some words that use this kanji:

神: "God". The Japanese noun '神 (かみ)' means 'god'. This word refers to a divine being or deity in the Shinto and Buddhist religions of Japan. It can be used to describe various gods and goddesses that are worshipped in these faiths. For example: The Shinto gods - (神々). I pray to the gods - (神に祈る).

精神: "Mind". The Japanese noun '精神 (せいしん)' refers to the mind, spirit, psyche, or mental faculties of a person. It encompasses concepts like one's thoughts, feelings, emotions, and overall mental state. This word is often used in the context of mental health, psychology, and philosophy. For example: A healthy mind is important - (健全な精神は大切だ). He has a strong spirit - (彼は強い精神を持っている).

神経: "Nerve". The Japanese noun '神経 (しんけい)' means 'nerve'. This word refers to the fibers that transmit sensory and motor impulses between the brain/spinal cord and other parts of the body. It can also refer to someone's mental state or sensitivity. For example: The surgery damaged the nerve - (手術で神経が損傷した). She is very sensitive, with frayed nerves - (彼女は神経質で気が弱い).

神社: "Shrine". The noun '神社 (じんじゃ)' refers to a Shinto shrine, a sacred place of worship in the Shinto religion of Japan. Shinto shrines are typically located in natural settings such as forests or on mountainsides, and they often feature impressive architecture, torii gates, and various Shinto symbols. These shrines are places where people come to pray, make offerings, and connect with the kami (Shinto deities). For example: I visit the shrine every New Year's Day - (新年の日に神社に参りました).

神様: "God". The Japanese noun '神様 (かみさま)' refers to a divine, supernatural being that is worshipped and revered in the Shinto and Buddhist religions in Japan. It is a respectful and honorific way to refer to a deity or higher power. '神様' is commonly used to address Shinto deities or Buddhist bodhisattvas. For example: I will pray to the gods - (神様に祈ります). The god has blessed us - (神様に祝福されました).

神話: "Mythology". The Japanese word '神話 (しんわ)' refers to traditional stories or narratives that involve supernatural beings, often used to explain the origins of the world, the creation of humans, and the histories and beliefs of a culture. These mythological tales are an important part of many ancient belief systems and provide insight into the worldviews and values of different societies. For example: The myths of ancient Greece are fascinating - (古代ギリシアの神話は非常に興味深い). Japanese mythology includes stories about kami (gods) - (日本の神話にはカミ (神) についての物語が含まれる).

神道: "Shintoism". 神道 (しんとう) is the indigenous religion of Japan, focused on ritual practices to be carried out diligently to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past. Shintoism involves the worship of kami, or spirits/essences, that are believed to be present in nature, including mountains, rivers, and even storms. It is considered the oldest religion in Japan, with origins dating back to the 8th century CE. Shintoism is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture and society, with many festivals, shrines, and practices that reflect its influence. For example: Shinto shrines can be found throughout Japan - (日本中にある神道の神社). Shintoism is an important part of Japanese culture - (神道は日本文化の重要な一部である).

神秘: "Mystery" or "Mystique". The Japanese noun '神秘 (しんぴ)' refers to something that is mysterious, enigmatic or difficult to explain. It often suggests a sense of wonder, awe or the supernatural. '神秘' can be used to describe a mysterious phenomenon, an unexplained event, or an aura of mystique surrounding a person or place. For example: The ancient ruins have an air of mystery about them - (その古代遺跡は神秘的な雰囲気がある). The magician's tricks were full of mystique - (そのマジシャンの手品は神秘に満ちていた).

神々: "Gods". The Japanese word '神々 (かみがみ)' refers to multiple deities or gods in Shintoism and other East Asian belief systems. It is the plural form of the word '神 (かみ)' meaning 'god' or 'deity'. This term is used to describe the various supernatural beings that are worshipped in Japanese culture, such as nature spirits, ancestral spirits, and other powerful spiritual forces. For example: The gods of Shintoism - (神々の信仰). The shrines are dedicated to the gods - (神々を祀る神社がある).

To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.

But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.

Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.

This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:

The hiragana "じ" is read as "ji". The hiragana "ん" is read as "n". The hiragana "し" is read as "shi". The hiragana "か" is read as "ka". The hiragana "み" is read as "mi". And The hiragana "ぐ" is read as "gu".

Heres a quick tutorial on how to use it. You'll be asked three type of questions: meaning, reading, and writing.

For meanings questions all you have to do is type the english meaning. If there is more than one meaning, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Reading questions you have to type the reading in romaji (roman letters, our normal alphabet) and it'll be automatically converted to hiragana if necessary. If there is more than one reading, you have to include them all in your answer separating them by commas (,).

For Writing questions some options will appear and all you have to do is select the correct ones.