Translation guide
The most common and natural way to say 'poet' in Japanese is 詩人 (しじん). This is a neutral, standard term. There are also more specific or nuanced terms, such as 歌人 (かじん) for a poet who writes traditional tanka poetry, and 俳人 (はいじん) for a haiku poet.
A person who writes poems, in a general sense.
The standard, neutral word for 'poet'. It can refer to poets of any era or style, but is most commonly used for modern or Western-style poets.
彼は有名な詩人です。
He is a famous poet.
彼女は詩人として生計を立てている。
She makes a living as a poet.
A poet who writes tanka, a traditional Japanese poetic form of 31 syllables.
Specifically refers to a poet who composes tanka (短歌). This is a traditional and respected term.
彼女は現代を代表する歌人だ。
She is a leading tanka poet of our time.
A poet who writes haiku, a traditional Japanese poetic form of 17 syllables.
Specifically refers to a poet who composes haiku (俳句).
松尾芭蕉は有名な俳人です。
Matsuo Basho is a famous haiku poet.
A more literary or poetic term for a poet, often used in classical contexts.
詩人 (しじん) is the general term for 'poet' and can be used for any kind of poet, but it often implies modern or free-verse poetry. 歌人 (かじん) is specifically for tanka poets, and 俳人 (はいじん) for haiku poets. If you are unsure, 詩人 is the safest choice.
In Japanese, it is common to be humble about one's own artistic pursuits. Instead of saying 'I am a poet' (私は詩人です), you might say 'I write poetry' (詩を書いています) or use a more modest expression like 詩をたしなんでいます (I enjoy poetry as a hobby).