圣贤

• Pinyin: shèng xián
• Hanzi breakdown: 圣 = 耳 + 口 + 王 (sage; one who hears and speaks the way of kings); 贤 = 臤 + 贝 (worthy; one of virtue and substance)

Meaning

Sages and worthies; wise and virtuous exemplars — moral and intellectual paragons revered in traditional Chinese thought.

A Confucian concept denoting individuals of supreme moral virtue and wisdom. 圣 (sage) refers to the highest exemplars such as Confucius and Mencius, while 贤 (worthy) refers to those of high but not supreme moral attainment. The term is common in classical literature, education, and discussions of traditional Chinese culture.

Examples

1. 古代学子研读四书五经，旨在效法圣贤的德行，修身齐家，治国平天下。 In ancient times, students studied the Four Books and Five Classics in order to emulate the virtue of the sages—cultivating themselves, managing their households, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world.
2. 这所书院历史悠久，长期以传播圣贤之道、培养经世致用之才为核心办学宗旨。 With its long history, this academy has long made spreading the teachings of the sages and cultivating practical talent its core educational mission.
3. 他虽身处乱世，仍坚守圣贤教诲，以仁义之心待人，赢得了后世的普遍尊敬。 Though he lived in chaotic times, he still held fast to the sages’ teachings and treated others with benevolence and righteousness, earning widespread respect from later generations.

Usage Guide

Context: classical literature, philosophy, education, history

Tone: reverent

Do Say

• 儒家思想强调，通过持续学习圣贤经典和躬行实践，每个人都有潜力成为德行高尚之人。(Confucian thought emphasises that through continuous study of sagely classics and earnest practice, every person has the potential to become a person of high moral virtue.)
• 这位老学者毕生致力于整理和诠释圣贤遗著，为后人理解中华传统文化做出了不可磨灭的贡献。(This senior scholar devoted his entire life to collating and interpreting the surviving works of sages and worthies, making an indelible contribution to posterity's understanding of traditional Chinese culture.)

Don't Say

• 圣贤 in casual or ironic contexts to describe ordinary people — 圣贤 carries the weight of Confucian moral excellence; using it lightly or sarcastically is culturally inappropriate

Origin & History

圣 (sage, holy; supremely wise and virtuous) + 贤 (worthy, virtuous, talented)

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Scholarly