How to say "sage" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 賢者けんじゃnounThe most direct equivalent of 'sage': a person renowned for wisdom, often one whose counsel or insight others seek. Use it for the general sense of 'a wise person'.
- 賢人けんじんnounA wise person, with the added idea of virtue: suits a respected figure admired for both wisdom and moral character. For the plain sense of 'sage', 賢者 is the more direct choice.
- 哲人てつじんnounCovers 'sage' in the sense of a profound thinker: the word also means 'philosopher', so it fits a person whose wisdom shows itself as depth of thought and insight.
- 聖人せいじんnounCovers 'sage' as a moral or religious exemplar: a person of supreme wisdom and virtue, especially in Confucianism, or a great religious teacher. Choose it when holiness or moral perfection is central.
Use 賢者 for a wise person or sage in general, 賢人 for a wise and virtuous figure, 哲人 when the emphasis is philosophical depth, and 聖人 only for a sage as a moral or religious paragon.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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