How to say "abbot" in Japanese

• 住職じゅうしょくCommon
  nounThe chief priest of a Buddhist temple; when 'abbot' means the head of a Japanese temple rather than a Christian monastery, this common word is the one to use.
• 大修道院長だいしゅうどういんちょう
  nounThe abbot of a Christian abbey, and also the term for an archimandrite in Eastern Orthodox churches; a specific, less common title, not the generic word for monastery heads.
• 修院長しゅういんちょう
  nounA broad term for the head of a monastic institution, covering prior, abbot, and prelate; less common and less specific, it suits contexts where the exact title is not the point.
• 修道院長しゅうどういんちょう
  nounThe generic term for the head of a monastic institution — abbot, prior, or abbess alike; less common than 住職, but the broadest choice for Christian monastic superiors.

Choose 住職, the common word, for a Buddhist temple's head priest; for Christian monastic superiors use 修道院長 generally, 大修道院長 for an abbey's abbot or an archimandrite, and 修院長 as a broader alternative.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 住職じゅうしょくchief priest (of a Buddhist temple)
• 大修道院長だいしゅうどういんちょうabbot
• 修院長しゅういんちょうprelate
• 修道院長しゅうどういんちょうhead of a monastic institution