修行
Meaning in Englishpursuit of knowledge, training, ascetic practice
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
修行 means training or discipline through sustained practice, often in a religious or spiritual context; it refers to the ongoing process of honing skills, character, or spiritual attainment through dedicated effort.
Main meanings
- Religious or spiritual training through sustained practice, especially within Buddhism and Zen.
- General self-discipline and long-term training to master a craft, skill, or profession.
- Ascetic or austere practice as part of growth, sometimes expressed as 苦行.
How to use it
Used as a noun and with the verb 修行する in formal and religious contexts; common in martial arts, Zen practice, and discussions of personal development; can appear in academic or spiritual writing; casual usage less common outside specific contexts; examples: 宗教的な修行に参加する; 剣術の修行を続ける; 仕事の修行として新しい技術を学ぶ.
Variants and close terms
- 修業 — training, study (romaji: shūgyō)
- 苦行 — ascetic practice (romaji: kugyō)
- 精進 — diligent practice (romaji: shōjin)
Composition
- 修: to repair, to mend, to cultivate; emphasis on refinement and preparation
- 行: to go, to conduct, action; emphasis on movement and conduct
Etymology
修行 has the Sino-Japanese origin, borrowed from Chinese xiūxíng; in Japanese, the on'yomi reading is shūgyō, reflecting a two-kanji compound whose pronunciation adapted to Japanese phonology.
Origin
Introduced to Japan with Buddhist teachings, the concept of 修行 spread through monasteries and later influenced martial arts and dojo training; over time it broadened from strictly religious practice to include secular personal development and professional mastery.
Word class
Noun, suru-verb (名詞, サ変動詞)