牧師

• Reading: ぼくし
• Romaji: bokushi
• Kanji breakdown: 牧 (boku) — herd, shepherd, pastor; 師 (shi) — master, teacher, expert
• Pronunciation: /bo.kɯ.ɕi/

Meaning

Pastor; minister; clergyman. A Christian religious leader who heads a Protestant congregation.

A noun specifically referring to ordained clergy in Protestant Christianity: 牧師になる (become a pastor), 牧師の説教 (the pastor's sermon). Distinguished from 神父 (shinpu, Catholic priest) and 僧侶 (sōryo, Buddhist monk). In Japan, where Christians are a small minority, the word appears primarily in discussions of foreign cultures, literature, and historical contexts.

Examples

1. 教会の牧師が結婚式を執り行った。 The church pastor officiated the wedding ceremony.
2. 彼は大学卒業後に牧師になる決意をした。 He decided to become a pastor after graduating from college.
3. 牧師の話に参列者は静かに耳を傾けた。 The congregation listened quietly to the pastor's sermon.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, literature, ceremonies

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 牧 (boku, herd/shepherd) + 師 (shi, master/teacher). The kanji 牧 originally meant shepherding, reflecting the Christian metaphor of the pastor as shepherd of the flock.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal