noun
General term for a person of great wisdom; can be used in both secular and religious contexts.
彼は当代きっての智者として知られている。
He is known as the wisest person of our time.
智者は多くを語らず、ただ静かに耳を傾ける。
A wise person speaks little and simply listens quietly.
noun
buddha; bodhisattva; enlightened priest
Buddhist term; refers to an enlightened being. The kanji 智者 is especially common in this sense.
仏教では、智者とは悟りを開いた者を指す。
In Buddhism, a 智者 refers to one who has attained enlightenment.
Alternate kanji form; less common but still used.
賢者 also means 'wise person' or 'sage', but is more common in modern Japanese and often used in fantasy or philosophical contexts. 智者 can carry a slightly more classical or Buddhist nuance.
Composed of 智 (wisdom) and 者 (person). The reading ちしゃ is the standard on'yomi. The alternate reading ちさ is obsolete.