清廉

• Reading: せいれん
• Romaji: seiren
• Kanji breakdown: 清 (sei/kiyo) — pure, clean, clear; 廉 (ren) — honest, incorruptible, cheap
• Pronunciation: /seː.ɾeɴ/

Meaning

Upright; incorruptible; clean-handed; morally pure. Describes a person who is completely free from self-interest, bribery, or moral corruption.

A na-adjective used in formal and literary registers to praise someone's moral character, especially in the context of public officials, scholars, or leaders. 清廉潔白 (seiren keppaku, pure and blameless) is a common four-character compound that intensifies the meaning. In modern usage, the word frequently appears in political discourse about ethical governance and is often invoked as an ideal or applied admiringly to those believed to be genuinely honest and selfless.

Examples

1. 清廉な政治家として知られた彼は、引退後も一切の利権に関わることがなかった。 Known as an upright politician, he remained entirely untouched by vested interests even after his retirement.
2. 権力の腐敗が蔓延する時代において、清廉さを保つことは並大抵のことではない。 In an age of rampant corruption, maintaining one's integrity is no ordinary feat.
3. 師の清廉潔白な生き方は、弟子たちにとって生涯の手本となった。 The master's blameless and pure way of life became a lifelong model for his disciples.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, ethics, biography, moral discourse

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Compound of 清 (sei/kiyo, pure/clear) and 廉 (ren, honest/inexpensive). The character 廉 depicts a person acting straightforwardly in matters of money, conveying incorruptibility. Together they form a literary ideal of moral purity. The term has roots in Chinese classical texts and entered Japanese formal usage through Sino-Japanese scholarship.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated