gentleman; man of learning and virtue
Archaic Confucian term for an ideal gentleman-scholar; not used in everyday modern Japanese. Found in classical texts and historical discussions.
論語には士君子の理想が説かれている。
The Analects expound the ideal of the gentleman-scholar.
Compound of 士 (scholar, gentleman) and 君子 (man of virtue, gentleman). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term is associated with classical Confucian ideals.