san4 se5神社
Jyutpingsan4 se5
Yalesàhn séh
Definition
Shinto shrine; a Japanese religious structure used to worship gods, ancestors, or spirits.
neutralplaces
How it's used
Refers specifically to Shinto architecture in Japan. Unlike the broader term 廟 used for Chinese temples, this word is almost exclusively reserved for the Japanese context. It carries a sense of cultural specificity that distinguishes it from other types of religious buildings.
Measure word
gaan1間gānExamples
We went to a shrine to pay our respects.
Related words
Common phrases
to visit and pray at a shrine
Common mistake
Do not use this word for Chinese temples or ancestral halls, as those are referred to as 廟 or 祠堂. Using it incorrectly can cause confusion about the religious context being described.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
