説教|せっきょうsekkyou[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbsermon; preaching; homily
  2. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbremonstration; scolding; lecturing
    彼女かのじょに説教せっきょうしても無駄むだである。↗
    There is no use talking to her.
Conjugation
Dictionary form説教する(せっきょうする)
Polite (masu)説教します(せっきょうします)
Negative (nai)説教しない(せっきょうしない)
polite (masen)説教しません(せっきょうしません)
classical zu / nu説教せず・説教せぬ(せっきょうせず・せっきょうせぬ)
Past (ta)説教した(せっきょうした)
polite (mashita)説教しました(せっきょうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)説教しなかった(せっきょうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)説教しませんでした(せっきょうしませんでした)
Te form説教して(せっきょうして)
Potential説教できる(せっきょうできる)
Passive説教される(せっきょうされる)
Causative説教させる(せっきょうさせる)
Causative passive説教させられる(せっきょうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)説教すれば(せっきょうすれば)
tara説教したら(せっきょうしたら)
Volitional説教しよう(せっきょうしよう)
polite (mashou)説教しましょう(せっきょうしましょう)
Imperative説教しろ(せっきょうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym説法せっぽうNeutralA monk's preaching of the Buddhist law; figuratively, lecturing someone with reasoning, as in 「釈迦に説法」. Neutral in register.
  • Synonym法話ほうわWrittenA priest's talk on Buddhist teachings; confined to religious settings and carrying none of 「説教」's scolding nuance.
  • Synonym談義だんぎNeutralChat or discussion on a topic, as in 「野球談義」; also a long, tedious lecture or sermon, as in 「長談義」. Neutral in register.
  • Synonym教誨きょうかいWrittenFormal word for admonishing and guiding someone, especially a chaplain's counselling of prison inmates, as in 「教誨師」; more formal than 「説教」.
  • Synonym法談ほうだんWrittenA talk expounding Buddhist doctrine; written in flavour and rare in modern usage, much like 「法話」.
  • Related道話どうわWrittenA parable or exemplum used to explain religious teaching; written in flavour and seldom used today.
  • Antonym褒めるほめるNeutralTo praise or compliment someone, as in 「子供を褒める」 — the opposite of scolding someone with 「説教」.
  • Antonym賞賛しょうさんWrittenPraise or admiration, as in 「賞賛を浴びる」; stands opposite to 「説教」 in its scolding, critical sense.

Use 「説教」 for religious sermons or, colloquially, for scolding and lecturing, as in 「親に説教される」. For Buddhist preaching choose 「説法」 or 「法話」, for long-winded talks 「談義」, for prison counselling 「教誨」; to praise, use 「褒める」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. その教おしえを説とくこと。
  2. 反省はんせいを促うながすなどのために、道理どうりや教訓きょうくんなどを堅苦かたくるしく話はなすこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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