Question
I’m traveling to Japan for the first time and plan to visit a few temples and shrines. I know it’s important to be respectful in these places, but I’m not sure how to express that in Japanese. How do I say “I would like to show my respect at this temple/shrine” in Japanese?
Japango Editor Team
この寺（てら）/神社（じんじゃ）で敬意（けいい）を表（ひょう）したいです。
Kono tera/jinja de keii o hyou shitai desu.
I would like to show my respect at this temple/shrine.
When visiting religious sites in Japan, it’s essential to be respectful of the cultural and spiritual significance they hold. The phrase “kono tera/jinja de keii o hyou shitai desu” helps express your intention of respect. “Kono” means “this”, “tera” refers to “temple”, “jinja” means “shrine”, and “keii o hyou shitai” translates to “would like to show respect”.
You can adjust the phrase based on your location by replacing “tera” with other sites like “jiin” (another word for temple) or “sanctuary”. This shows that you are considerate and aware of the cultural practices, which will certainly be appreciated by locals and staff.
