教会

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 教会 is read きょうかい and is a noun for a Christian congregation or the building where it worships.
• Basic usage: Express the building's location with 丘の上に教会が建っている and an event's setting with 教会で演奏会が開かれた.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Congregation and building
  • 教会 can refer to a community of believers, but the two existing examples refer to a building on a hill and a concert venue. Use context to distinguish the senses.
• に and で
  • Use に for the church's location and で for an event taking place there. A place does not always take the same particle.
• Range of religious buildings
  • Do not use 教会 as a generic label covering a Buddhist 寺(てら) or a Shinto 神社(じんじゃ).