高僧|こうそうkousou[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounhigh priest; highly ranked priest
2. nounvirtuous priest; priest of great sanctity and learning

• Related貴僧きそうFormalFormal. Also used as an honorific when addressing a priest in person; 「高僧」 stresses virtue and high standing.
• Related高位聖職者WrittenWritten/formal prose. A senior cleric in Christianity and other religions, such as a bishop; 「高僧」 refers only to Buddhism.
• Antonym凡僧ぼんそうWrittenWritten/formal prose. An unranked, lowly priest, standing opposite the virtuous, eminent 「高僧」; not a neutral term for priests in general.

Use 「高僧」 for a priest of great virtue or high standing, as in 「名高い高僧」. To address a priest respectfully in person, use the formal 「貴僧」; 「高位聖職者」 is written prose for senior Christian clergy; 「凡僧」 is the written opposite of 「高僧」, an unranked priest.

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

1. 徳とくの優すぐれた僧そう。
2. 官位かんいの高たかい僧そう。