How to say "monastery" in Japanese

• 僧院そういんCommon
  nounA monastery as a home of monks; it fits Buddhist monasteries in particular and can also mean a temple. For a Christian monastery, 修道院 is the word to use.
• 修道院しゅうどういんCommon
  nounThe word to use for a Christian monastery: a house where monks or nuns live under religious vows. It also covers a convent, cloister or abbey, so it spans Christian monastic institutions generally.
  当時とうじは修道しゅうどう僧そう達たちが修道院しゅうどういんでよくテニスをしていた。↗

  Monks used to play tennis in monasteries.
• 伽藍がらんCommon
  nounAn abbreviated Buddhist term for the buildings and precincts of a temple, especially a large one; its 'monastery' sense is marginal, so it is not a general word for monastery.

For a Christian monastery or convent use 修道院; for a monastery as a monks' residence, especially a Buddhist one, use 僧院; 伽藍 denotes a large Buddhist temple's buildings and is only marginally 'monastery'.

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

• 僧院そういんmonastery
• 修道院しゅうどういんmonastery
• 伽藍がらんtemple (esp. large one)
• 精舎しょうじゃtemple
• 檀林だんりんBuddhist center for study and meditation