Translation guide
Money offered in connection with incense at Buddhist funerals or memorial services in Japan. The term is culturally specific and does not have a single direct translation; the appropriate expression depends on the context and formality.
Money brought to a wake or funeral, typically placed in a special envelope and offered at the altar.
The standard term for condolence money given at a Buddhist funeral. It is placed in a special envelope (香典袋) and handed over at the reception.
香典は受付でお渡しください。
Please hand over the condolence money at the reception desk.
Literally 'incense fee', used similarly to 香典 but slightly more traditional or formal. Often seen on envelopes.
香料として五千円包みました。
I enclosed 5,000 yen as an incense offering.
Polite form of 香典, with the honorific prefix 御 (ご). Used in formal situations or on the envelope itself.
御香典は辞退させていただきます。
We respectfully decline condolence money.
Money offered at a Buddhist memorial service (法要) to help cover costs or as an offering.
Money offered 'before the Buddha', used for memorial services after the 49th day. The envelope is marked 御仏前.
御仏前にお供えください。
Please offer it before the Buddha.
Money offered 'before the spirit', used up to the 49th day after death. After that, 御仏前 is used.
A polite variant of 香典, sometimes used for memorial services, but 御仏前 or 御霊前 are more specific.
お香典をいただきありがとうございます。
Thank you for the condolence money.
A small amount of money given at a temple when offering incense, not necessarily related to a funeral.
Literally 'incense stick fee', a casual term for a small offering when burning incense at a temple.
線香代を賽銭箱に入れた。
I put some incense money into the offering box.
Polite version of 線香代, with the honorific お.
お線香代として百円お供えしました。
I offered 100 yen as incense money.
The English phrase 'incense money' is not used in Japanese. Always use the appropriate term based on the situation: 香典 for funerals, 御仏前/御霊前 for memorials, and 線香代 for casual temple offerings.
Condolence money is placed in a special black-and-white or silver envelope (不祝儀袋). The amount depends on your relationship to the deceased, and crisp new bills are avoided as they imply preparation for the death.
御霊前にお供えします。
I will offer it before the spirit.