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高僧 (こうそう, kousou) Japanese meaning: high priest | Kotomora

高こう僧そう

こ

う

そ

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Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

high priest; highly ranked priest

Refers to a priest of high rank or status within a Buddhist hierarchy.

その寺てらの高こう僧そうが法ほう要ようを執とり行おこなった。

The high priest of that temple conducted the memorial service.

2

virtuous priest; priest of great sanctity and learning

Emphasizes personal virtue, deep learning, and spiritual attainment rather than formal rank.

彼かれは学がく識しきと徳とくを兼かね備そなえた高こう僧そうとして知しられている。
He is known as a virtuous priest of great learning and character.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉は高こう僧そうとして知しられるto be known as a high/virtuous priest
この寺てらの住じゅう職しょくは高こう僧そうとして知しられている。
The head priest of this temple is known as a high priest.
高こう僧そうの教おしえを受うけるto receive the teachings of a high/virtuous priest
若わかい僧そうたちは高こう僧そうの教おしえを受うけて修しゅ行ぎょうに励はげんだ。

Kanji

高tall, high, expensive
僧Buddhist priest, monk

Related words· 6

僧そう侶りょN1sense 1
僧侶 is the neutral, general word for a Buddhist monk or priest, while 高僧 specifically denotes one of high rank or great spiritual attainment.
名めい僧そう sense 2
名僧 emphasizes a priest's fame or renown, whereas 高僧 stresses rank or virtue rather than public recognition.
上しょう人にん sense 1
上人 is a respectful title placed after the name of an eminent priest, while 高僧 is a descriptive noun referring to such a priest in general.
長ちょう老ろう
高僧 is a general term for a high-ranking, virtuous Buddhist monk, while 長老 specifically denotes the senior monk who leads or advises a temple.

Show 2 more

大だい師し
高僧 is a general term for any high-ranking or virtuous monk, while 大師 is a specific honorific title reserved for the most revered masters, such as Kōbō Daishi.
聖ひじり
高僧 specifically means a high-ranking or eminent monk, while 聖 stresses personal virtue or solitary/missionary practice rather than institutional rank.

Don't confuse with

高こう層そうN2
高僧 (a high-ranking priest) and 高層 (high-rise, as in a tall building) are pronounced identically but refer to completely unrelated things.

Counted with

人にん
counter for people

Etymology

Compound of 高 (high, noble) and 僧 (priest, monk). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of a high-ranking or virtuous Buddhist priest.

The young monks trained diligently under the teachings of the high priest.