神
God, Deity, Spirit
かみ (kami)
JLPT N3
Interesting Fact
In Shinto, Japan's native religion, 神 (kami) can refer to gods, spirits, sacred natural forces, or revered ancestors. There are said to be millions of kami throughout Japan.
Memory Trick
Imagine a sacred altar where a divine spirit suddenly appears. The left side shows a ritual altar and the right side represents something being revealed, creating the idea of a god.
Readings
Onyomi: シン (shin), ジン (jin)
Kunyomi: かみ (kami)
Example Words
神
かみ (kami)
God, deity
神社
じんじゃ (jinja)
Shinto shrine
神様
かみさま (kamisama)
God
精神
せいしん (seishin)
Spirit, mentality
Example Sentence
神社で 神様 に お祈りしました。
じんじゃで かみさま に おいのりしました。
jinja de kamisama ni oinori shimashita
I prayed to the gods at a shrine.