How to say "reverend" in Japanese

• 牧師ぼくしJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjectiveCovers 'reverend' in the sense of a Christian pastor or minister — the clergyman English calls 'the Reverend'. Use it for the clerical role itself, whether speaking of such a clergyman or addressing one.
  １９６４年ねんにキング牧師ぼくしはノーベル平和賞へいわしょうを受賞じゅしょうした。↗

  In 1964, Rev. King won the Nobel Peace Prize.
• 上人しょうにんCommon
  suffixA respectful (sonkeigo) title meaning 'reverend' or 'venerable', used of a revered Buddhist monk. It is not a Christian clerical title, so it is seldom the word you want for ordinary uses of English 'reverend'.

Use 牧師 for 'reverend' as a Christian pastor or minister, the person addressed as 'Reverend'; 上人 is a respectful honorific for a revered Buddhist monk, closer to 'Venerable' than to a clerical job title.

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

• 牧師ぼくしpastor
• 上人しょうにんreverend