also: さんい
third place; third rank
Used for third place in competitions, rankings, or hierarchies. Reading さんい is especially common for this sense.
He placed third in the marathon.
third rank (Japanese court system)
Only with reading さんみ
Historical court rank; reading is さんみ. Used in contexts related to the imperial court or traditional aristocracy.
Trinity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Only with reading さんみ
Christian term; reading is さんみ. Used in theological contexts.
三位入賞おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on winning third place.
He was granted the rank of third court rank in the imperial court.
In Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity is important.
Compound meaning 'Trinity' or 'three-in-one'; more common than 三位 alone for the Christian concept.
the Trinity · three-in-one combination; triad; three elements working as one
Junior Third Rank
Senior Third Rank
Standard kanji spelling. Reading さんみ is used for court rank and Trinity; さんい is common for third place.
Common reading for third place in competitions.
From 三 (three) + 位 (rank, position). The reading さんみ is the older go-on reading, while さんい is a later kan-on reading.