holy · saint

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 聖 is read せい, has 13 strokes, and appears in words for holiness or saints.
• Basic usage: 聖書 is read せいしょ, and 神聖 is read しんせい.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 聖書 and 神聖
  • 聖書 means Bible or Scripture.
  • 図書館の宗教史の棚に古い聖書が展示されている。 means “An old Bible is displayed on the religious history shelf in the library.”
  • 神聖 means sacred or holiness.
  • 村人は森を神聖な場所として守ってきた。 means “The villagers have preserved the forest as a sacred place.”