How to say "saint" in Japanese

• 聖人せいじんCommon
  nounThe usual word for a saint: a person of great holiness or virtue, whether a religious saint proper or, figuratively, someone of truly exemplary character — as when you praise a selfless person.
  彼かれの聖人せいじんぶった態度たいどが気きにいらない。↗

  I don't like his holier-than-thou attitude.
• 聖者せいじゃCommon
  nounAlso 'saint', with a more overtly religious flavor: a holy person revered within a faith. It sits close to 聖人, but for the figurative 'he's a saint' sense, 聖人 is the safer choice.
  その聖者せいじゃが埋葬まいそうされている聖堂せいどうを多おおくの人々ひとびとが訪おとずれた。↗

  Many people visited the shrine where the saint lay buried.
• 全人ぜんじんCommon
  nounSeldom the word you want for 'saint': it really denotes an ideal person well balanced morally and intellectually — a fully rounded human being rather than a holy figure. For saints proper, use 聖人 or 聖者.

Use 聖人 for a saint or exceptionally virtuous person, 聖者 for the same idea with a more religious flavor, and avoid 全人 for saints: it really means a person well balanced morally and intellectually.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 聖人せいじんsaint
• 聖者せいじゃsaint
• 全人ぜんじんsaint
• 聖せいSaint
• サンSaint
• セントsaint
• 聖女せいじょsaint
• 聖徒せいとsaint
• サントsaint
• 聖人君子せいじんくんしperson of lofty virtue
• 聖ひじりsaint (i.e. a virtuous person)