教会|きょうかいkyoukai[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounchurch; congregation
   その教会きょうかいは１１７３年ねんまでさかのぼる。↗

   The church dates back to 1173.

• SynonymチャーチCasualColloquial loanword for a church, seen mostly in names; in everyday speech 「教会」 is the usual word.
• RelatedチャペルNeutralLoanword for a chapel, often one attached to a school or hospital, or one used for weddings. 「教会」 is broader, as it can also mean the congregation or organization.
• Related会堂かいどうWrittenWritten/formal prose term for a building used for gatherings, as in 「市民会堂」; it can also mean a church building. 「教会」 additionally covers the congregation.
• Related礼拝堂れいはいどうNeutralRead 「れいはいどう」, it means a building for worship; read 「らいはいどう」, it is the worship hall in front of a Buddhist temple's main hall.
• Related教会堂きょうかいどうWrittenWritten/formal prose term referring specifically to the church building. 「教会」 can also mean the congregation or organization, so it covers more.

「教会」 is the default for a church or congregation. 「チャペル」 is a chapel attached to a school or hospital or used for weddings; 「礼拝堂」 a worship building; 「教会堂」 (written) the building itself. 「会堂」 (written) covers assembly halls; 「チャーチ」 appears mostly in names.

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

1. 宗教しゅうきょう、特とくにキリスト教きりすときょうの信者しんじゃが作つくっている組織そしき。
2. 教会堂きょうかいどう、礼拝堂れいはいどうなどの建物たてもの。