Japanese Conversation · Level 85
60 words
Japanese word
神聖
Pronunciation
Romajishinsei
Meaning
- na-adjectivesacred
Example
この場所は神聖です。ko no ba sho wa shin sei de su
This place is sacred.
More examples
祭壇に近づく前に、神聖な場所では静かにしてください。sai dan ni chika zu ku mae ni shin sei na ba sho de wa shizu ka ni shi te ku da sa i
Please be quiet in the sacred place before approaching the altar.
Core concept
Marks something as set apart from ordinary life and worthy of religious respect.
Common phrases
神聖な場所shin sei na ba sho
sacred place
神聖な儀式shin sei na gi shiki
sacred ritual
神聖な土地shin sei na to chi
sacred land
Definition in Japanese
神や宗教に関わり、けがれがなく尊いさま。kami ya shū kyō ni kaka wa ri ke ga re ga na ku tōto i sa ma
Word origin
The Sino-Japanese compound 神聖 (shinsei, "sacred") combines 神 (shin, "deity") and 聖 (sei, "holy") to express holiness linked to the divine.
Usage tips
- The English word sacred appears in sacred cow, where it describes an idea or institution treated as beyond criticism, extending the religious sense into ordinary discussion.
Other meanings
- holyna-adjective
Opposites
- 世俗的sezokutekisecularna-adjective
Related words
- 神聖さshinseisasacrednessnoun
- 神聖化shinseikasanctificationnoun