善ぜん男なん子し

noun

pious man; good man

Buddhist term for a virtuous male lay follower; often used in sutras and religious contexts. The female counterpart is 善女人 (ぜんにょにん).

See also: 善男

• 経きょう典てんには「善ぜん男なん子し、善ぜん女にょ人にん」と繰くり返かえし出でてくる。

  The phrase 'good men and good women' appears repeatedly in the sutras.