also: さんい
noun
third place; third rank
Used for third place in competitions, rankings, or hierarchies. Reading さんい is especially common for this sense.
彼はマラソンで三位に入った。
He placed third in the marathon.
三位入賞おめでとうございます。
Congratulations on winning third place.
noun
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.
彼は朝廷で三位の位を授けられた。
He was granted the rank of third court rank in the imperial court.
noun
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.
キリスト教では、三位一体の教義が重要です。
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.
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.