How to say "sermon" in Japanese

• 説教せっきょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe word for a sermon in the ordinary religious sense, especially one delivered during a Christian church service; it can also describe a stretch of preaching directed at you personally.
• 説法せっぽうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbCovers the sermon sense chiefly in a Buddhist setting, where a monk preaches to an assembly; for a Christian church sermon, 説教 is the natural choice.
• 談義だんぎCommon
  nounRarely the word for an actual religious sermon: it means a talk or lecture that is formal and tedious, so 'sermon' fits only figuratively, for a long-winded moralizing talk.

Use 説教 for a sermon in the religious sense, especially a Christian church sermon; 説法 for Buddhist preaching by a monk; 談義 is not a literal sermon but a long, tedious talk, with 'sermon' only figurative.

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

• 説教せっきょうsermon
• 説法せっぽうlecture
• 讃談さんだんpraising Buddha
• 談義だんぎ(formal and tedious) talk