Korean Dictionary
How to say "Shrine" in Korean
“Shrine” in Korean is 신사 (pronounced "Sinsa").
신사
Sinsa
Usage & Context
Shrines are sacred places dedicated to spirits or deities in Korean folk religion. They are often found in nature and are important sites for traditional rituals.
Example Sentence
산 위의 신사에서 기도했습니다.
I prayed at a shrine on the mountain.
How to use 신사 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Shrine” is 신사, romanized as Sinsa.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 신사.
Pronunciation Guide
신 (sin) sounds like 'shin' in 'shin bone'. 사 (sa) sounds like 'sa' in 'sad' but with a shorter, crisper 'a' sound. Combine as 'Shin-sa'.
More Example Sentences
Discussing Korean history.
일제강점기에는 많은 신사들이 세워졌어요.
Many shrines were built during the Japanese colonial period.
Clarifying cultural understanding.
한국에서는 '신사'라고 하면 보통 일본 신사를 떠올려요.
In Korea, when you say 'shrine,' people usually think of Japanese shrines.
Talking about travel to Japan.
일본 여행 가면 신사 참배는 꼭 해봐야죠.
If you go to Japan, you definitely have to visit a shrine.
Cultural Context
In modern Korean, '신사' (sinsa) almost exclusively refers to *Japanese Shinto shrines*. This term carries historical weight due to the Japanese colonial period (1910-1945), during which Shinto shrines were built and Shinto worship was enforced in Korea. For traditional Korean sacred sites, terms like '사당' (sadang - ancestral shrines) or '서낭당' (seonangdang - village guardian shrines) are used instead.
Editorial note
We review entries like 신사 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
일본 신사
Japanese shrine
신사 참배
Shrine visit/worship (often in historical/Japanese context)
야스쿠니 신사
Yasukuni Shrine (a controversial Japanese shrine)
Related Expressions
사당
sadang
Ancestral shrine (Korean context)
서낭당
seonangdang
Village guardian shrine (Korean folk context)
절
jeol
Buddhist temple
무당
mudang
Shaman (often associated with folk rituals)
More Religion Words
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