Kanji
斎
N1
11 strokes
Grade 8
freq #1155
purification, Buddhist food, room, worship, avoid
On'yomi (音読み)
サイ
Kun'yomi (訓読み)
とき、 つつし.む、 ものいみ、 い.む、 いわ.う、 いつ.く
On'yomi compounds (音読み)
斎場
さいじょう
funeral hall
書斎
しょさい
study; library
斎食
さいじき
morning meal (for priests, monks, etc.)
斎行
さいこう
carrying out (a religious festival or ceremony)
大斎
たいさい
Great Lent; Great Fast
羅漢斎
らかんさい
Buddha's delight (vegetarian dish)
斎堂
さいどう
dining hall at a Zen temple or monastery; refectory
三斎流
さんさいりゅう
Sansai school of tea ceremony
斎院
さいいん
imperial princess who served as a priestess at Ise
斎王
さいおう
unmarried imperial princess serving at the Ise Grand Shrine or the Kamo Shrine in place of the Emperor
Kun'yomi words (訓読み)
揚げ斎
あげどき
last death anniversary for which there is a memorial service held (usu. the 32nd or 49th)
貧僧の重ね斎
ひんそうのかさねどき
good luck does not last; a poor priest's two memorial services (being so close in time the priest can only eat at one of them)
斎
とき
meals exchanged by parishioners and priests
Example sentences
彼（かれ）は書斎（しょさい）に引（ひ）きこもった。
He closeted himself in his study.
彼（かれ）は書斎（しょさい）にいる。
He is in his library.