敬虔

• Reading: けいけん
• Romaji: keiken
• Kanji breakdown: 敬 (kei) — respect, reverence; 虔 (ken) — devout, sincere
• Pronunciation: /keː.keɴ/

Meaning

Devout; pious; deeply reverent in religious faith or spiritual matters.

A na-adjective describing a deeply respectful and sincere attitude toward religion or spiritual matters. Takes な before nouns (敬虔な信者, a devout believer). Used primarily in religious and literary contexts, not in everyday casual conversation.

Examples

1. 祖母は敬虔なクリスチャンで毎週教会に通っている。 My grandmother is a devout Christian who goes to church every week.
2. 敬虔な祈りを捧げる姿に心を打たれた。 I was moved by the sight of someone offering a devout prayer.
3. 彼は敬虔な態度で神社を参拝した。 He visited the shrine with a deeply reverent attitude.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, literature, spirituality

Tone: solemn

Origin & History

Compound of 敬 (respect, reverence) + 虔 (devout, sincere). 虔 is a rare character used almost exclusively in this compound, conveying sincere devotion.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal