清廉|せいれんseiren[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounhonest; upright; cleanhanded; unselfish

• Synonym廉潔れんけつWrittenNearly synonymous with 「清廉」, stressing integrity and incorruptibility; more literary in tone and used less often than the headword.
• Synonym良心的りょうしんてきNeutralConscientious and moral, and often used of fair prices or honest shops; its range of use is wider than 「清廉」.
• Synonym廉直れんちょくWrittenA rare, literary word for being clean and upright; it can also mean 'cheap', and is almost never used in modern Japanese.
• Related公明正大こうめいせいだいWrittenA written-style term stressing open, fair and aboveboard conduct; the focus is on fair dealing rather than specifically on refusing personal gain.
• Related律儀りちぎNeutralDescribes a dutiful, meticulous person who honors obligations and keeps the rules; it does not specifically imply freedom from greed.
• Related正直しょうじきNeutralThe everyday word for honesty in the sense of not lying; far more common than 「清廉」, which specifically means not seeking private gain.
• Related誠実せいじつNeutralSincere in word and deed, mostly describing how one treats other people; it does not specifically stress incorruptibility.
• Related実直じっちょくWrittenA written-style word for someone honest, steady and hardworking; often used of diligent, ordinary people, with no emphasis on being free of greed.
• Related堅気かたぎNeutralRefers to a respectable person with a proper occupation, or an upright, steady character; not about officials being clean-handed.
• Related真正直ましょうじきNeutralUtterly honest, to the point of inflexibility; sometimes carries a nuance of being too straightforward.
• Related篤実とくじつWrittenKind-hearted, sincere and warm; a written-style word often used in evaluating someone's character.
• Related物堅いものがたいWrittenAn adjective describing an upright, trustworthy and dependable person; rather literary and not much used today.
• Related謹直きんちょくWrittenA written-style word for someone cautious, proper and scrupulous; the emphasis is on a serious attitude, not on refusing personal gain.
• Antonym汚職おしょくWrittenThe direct opposite of 「清廉」: misconduct by public officials who exploit their office, including bribery; a mainly written term.
• Antonym腐敗ふはいNeutralLiterally rotting; by extension the decay or degeneration of politics and organizations — broader than 「汚職」, which is limited to misconduct by public officials.

Use 「清廉」 for officials or politicians who are clean-handed and free of private greed. For everyday honesty pick 「正直」 or 「誠実」; 「公明正大」 stresses fair, open conduct. Other near-synonyms describe character — dutiful 「律儀」, steady 「実直」, scrupulous 「謹直」 — without the sense of refusing gain. The antonyms are 「汚職」 and 「腐敗」 — official corruption and broader decay.

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

1. 心こころが清きよく私欲しよくが無ないこと。