巡礼（じゅんれい、junrei）
- pilgrimage

The Japanese word 巡礼 (じゅんれい, junrei) means "pilgrimage" or "pilgrim." It refers to a journey, often religious in nature, to a sacred place or shrine. This journey is typically undertaken as an act of devotion, penance, or to gain spiritual merit. 巡礼 can also refer to the person undertaking the journey, a "pilgrim." The act of 巡礼 involves visiting specific locations or sites considered holy or significant within a particular faith. It often entails following a set route, performing certain rituals, and collecting items such as stamps, charms, or souvenirs. The purpose of 巡礼 is primarily spiritual, seeking enlightenment, connection with the divine, or to fulfill a vow.

⚫︎お遍路（へんろ）巡礼 Translation: Shikoku pilgrimage ⚫︎巡礼の道 Translation: Pilgrimage route ⚫︎仏教の巡礼 Translation: Buddhist pilgrimage

You can use 巡礼 in conversations when discussing religious travels, journeys to sacred sites, or the act of being a pilgrim. It's suitable for describing someone's intention to go on a pilgrimage or recounting their experience of one. You can use it when talking about visiting places like temples, shrines, or other holy locations. When speaking about a specific pilgrimage, the term is frequently used with the specific site or faith. For instance, 四国八十八ヶ所巡礼 (Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage) is a well-known example. You can use the verb 巡礼する (じゅんれいする, junrei suru) to mean "to make a pilgrimage" or "to go on a pilgrimage." For instance, 彼は来年、巡礼するつもりです (Kare wa rainen, junrei suru tsumori desu - He intends to go on a pilgrimage next year).

The word 巡礼 is typically written with the kanji 巡 (jun, meaning "to go around" or "to patrol") and 礼 (rei, meaning "worship" or "respect"). The reading is じゅんれい (junrei). There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard, with no variations.

There aren't many direct synonyms for 巡礼 in Japanese, because it represents a specific concept. However, related words or phrases include: ⚫︎参拝 (さんぱい, sanpai): worship, visiting a shrine or temple. While not a synonym, 参拝 often accompanies 巡礼. ⚫︎巡拝 (じゅんぱい, junpai): a synonym to 巡礼 but less common.

There aren't direct antonyms for 巡礼, as it is a specific action. However, the opposite of the activity could be considered: ⚫︎ Staying at home: Refraining from travel. ⚫︎ Irreligious activity: Engaging in activities unrelated to faith.

彼は一生に一度、イスラム教の聖地へ巡礼に行きたいと思っている。 ・Translation: He hopes to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Islam once in his life. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone's desire to undertake a 巡礼 for religious purposes to a specific destination.

その巡礼者は、すべての寺院を回り終え、満足そうな顔をしていた。 ・Translation: That pilgrim had completed visiting all the temples and wore a satisfied expression. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates a 巡礼 that has already been completed, referring to the person who did it.

The word 巡礼 is a compound of two kanji: 巡 (jun), meaning "to go around" or "to patrol," and 礼 (rei), meaning "worship" or "respect." Therefore, the word literally signifies "to go around worshiping" or "to make a journey of respect," precisely describing the act of 巡礼 itself. It reflects the core aspect of 巡礼, which involves traveling to sacred places and paying respects or performing religious practices there.