Chinese word

圣贤

Pronunciation

Pinyinshèng xián

Meaning

  • nounsage

Example

人们把他当作圣贤来请教问题。rén men bǎ tā dàng zuò shèng xián lái qǐng jiào wèn tí

People come to him for advice, treating him as a sage.

Illustration for 圣贤 (sage)

More examples

许多古籍把孔子视为圣贤，世代传颂。xǔ duō gǔ jí bǎ kǒng zi shì wéi shèng xián shì dài chuán sòng

Many ancient books regard Confucius as a sage, and this has been passed down through generations.

Core concept

A person whose moral goodness and wisdom set an almost sacred standard for others.

Common phrases

  • 尊称圣贤zūn chēng shèng xián

    honor as a sage

  • 奉为圣贤fèng wéi shèng xián

    revere as a sage

  • 视为圣贤shì wéi shèng xián

    regard as a sage

Similar words

贤人xián rén: A wise and virtuous person who earns respect from others.
智者zhì zhě: A wise person with the judgment to see problems clearly and understand their true nature.
君子jūn zǐ: A Confucian ideal person who follows virtue, courtesy, and proper behavior.

Definition in Chinese

常用来称呼或描述古代或理想中的具备高尚道德与卓越智慧的人。cháng yòng lái chēng hū huò miáo shù gǔ dài huò lí xiǎng zhōng de jù bèi gāo shàng dào dé yǔ zhuó yuè zhì huì de rén

Word origin

圣 (shèng, "sacred") + 贤 (xián, "worthy and wise") joins high moral standing with wisdom and virtue in the image of an ideal person.

Usage tips

  • The word belongs more to formal, literary, and historical contexts than to casual speech, where a simpler description of someone's wisdom or good character is usually more natural.

Other meanings

  • saintnoun

Opposites

  • 愚人yú rénfoolnoun

Related words

  • 先贤xiān xiánancient sagenoun
  • 贤者xián zhěsagenoun

Word lists with this word