僧舍 (sēng shè) literally means 'monk’s dwelling' — 僧 (sēng) refers to a Buddhist monk or ordained male practitioner, and 舍 (shè) is a classical term for 'residence', 'quarters', or 'humble abode'. Together, the compound specifically denotes the living quarters assigned to monks within a Buddhist temple or monastery. Unlike general terms like 宿舍 (dormitory), 僧舍 carries religious and institutional connotations, emphasizing its function as a quiet, disciplined space for monastic life, study, and meditation.

This word appears primarily in formal, literary, or historical contexts — in temple descriptions, travel writing about monasteries, or cultural essays. It is rarely used in everyday speech and never for secular housing. The tone of 舍 here is shè (not shě), reflecting its meaning as 'building' or 'residence'; mispronouncing it as shě ('to give up') would cause confusion or unintended humor.