How to say "divinity" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

神かみJLPT N3approx.Common
nounCovers 'divinity' as a divine being: the general word for a god or deity. Choose it when simply naming or talking about a god, with no honorific coloring.
人間にんげんは神かみほど万能ばんのうではない。↗
Man is not as almighty as God.
神学しんがくCommon
nounHere 'divinity' means the field of study, not a divine being: theology as an academic subject, as in studying divinity at a university. It never refers to a god itself.
父ちちのわずかの蔵書ぞうしょは主おもに論争ろんそう神学しんがくの本ほんから成り立なりたっていたが、その大半たいはんを読よんでいた。↗
My father's little library consisted chiefly of books on polemic divinity, most of which I read.
神格しんかくCommon
nounDivinity as a quality or status — the state of being a god — rather than a divine being itself; it fits discussion of whether someone or something possesses godhood.
野球やきゅう人にんでこれほど神格化しんかくかされた男おとこもいない。↗
No baseball player has been as deified as this man.
神様かみさまJLPT N2approx.Common
nounThe respectful way to refer to a god or to God: the same divine-being sense as 神, with honorific coloring, as in addressing God in prayer or speaking of a deity with reverence.
危険きけんが過すぎると神かみ様さまは忘わすれられる。↗
The danger past and God forgotten.

Use 神 for a god or divine being in general, 神様 when speaking of one respectfully, 神格 for divinity as a quality or status, and 神学 only for divinity in the academic sense of theology.

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

Japanese equivalents

神かみgod
神学しんがくtheology
神格しんかくdivinity
神様かみさまGod
神性しんせいdivinity
神位しんいdivinity
カムイgod
神聖性しんせいせいsacredness
神しんgod

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