Quick answer
寺 is the kanji for "Buddhist temple". Its reading is てら (tera). This page includes example sentences and a stroke-order diagram.
Meaning
Buddhist temple
Also : Temple · Shrine
Learn 寺 with SRS
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Readings
kun = Japanese reading · on = Chinese reading
Practice writing
Trace the kanji stroke by stroke with a visual guide.
Stroke Order
6 strokes
Radicals
Memory Aid
The kanji 寺 represents 'BUDDHIST TEMPLE'. Think of this shape as a picture representing the concept of buddhist temple.
On-reading: じ — remember this sound by associating it with buddhist temple. Kun-reading: てら.
Example Sentences
禅寺の庭園は、日本美の象徴と言われています。
ぜんでらのていえんは、にほんびのしょうちょうといわれています。
Zen temple gardens are said to be symbols of Japanese beauty.
京都には三千以上のお寺や神社があると言われています。
きょうとにはさんぜんいじょうのおてらやじんじゃがあるといわれています。
Kyoto is said to have more than 3,000 temples and shrines.
Vocabulary using 寺
Grammar to study at this level
- [Noun] + に伴い～に伴い (ni tomonai) - Along with / In accordance with
- [Noun] + をはじめ～をはじめ (wo hajime) - Starting with / Including
- [Noun] + に応じて～に応じて (ni oujite) - According to / In response to
- [Noun] + から + [Noun] + にかけて～にかけて (ni kakete) - From...to / In the area of
- [Noun] + に限り～に限り (ni kagiri) - Limited to / Only
Last updated Jun 11, 2026
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