How to say "ordination" in Japanese

• 任命にんめいJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbA common word for appointing or nominating someone to a post or office; its ordination sense is marginal, and for the religious rite it is seldom the word you want.
  私わたしたちはウッド氏しを議長ぎちょうに任命にんめいした。↗

  We appointed Mr Wood chairman.
• 按手あんしゅ
  nounA less common word referring to the laying on of hands, the ritual act performed in ordination; choose it when the rite itself, not the appointment, is what you mean.
• 任職にんしょく
  nounRefers to ordination as installation in a religious post, and is also used for appointment to a post generally. It is a less common word.
• 叙階じょかい
  noun, suru verbA less common word that serves as the Catholic term for ordination, denoting conferral of holy orders; the natural choice in Catholic contexts.
• 叙品じょひん
  noun, suru verbAnother Catholic term for ordination, with the nuance of conferring a grade of holy orders; in practice it largely overlaps with 叙階.

For ordination as a religious rite, choose 按手 for the laying on of hands, 叙階 or 叙品 in Catholic contexts, and 任職 for installation in a religious post; 任命 is really general appointment to office.

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

• 任命にんめいappointment
• 按手あんしゅordination
• 任職にんしょくordination
• 叙階じょかいordination (esp. Catholic)
• 叙品じょひんordination (esp. Catholic)
• 按手礼あんしゅれい(Protestant) laying on of hands