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清廉 (せいれん) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

清せい廉れん

せ

い

れ

ん

Common word›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

na-adjective, noun

honest; upright; incorruptible

Describes a person of integrity, especially in public or professional life; implies moral purity and freedom from corruption. Often used in formal or literary contexts.

彼かれは清せい廉れんな政

せい

治じ

家か

と

し

て

知し

ら

れ

て

いる

。

He is known as an honest politician.

清せい廉れん潔けっ白ぱくな生いき方かたを貫つらぬいた。

He led a life of integrity and purity.

Usage patterns

清せい廉れんな〈人ひと〉an honest, incorruptible person (e.g. official, politician)
彼かれは清せい廉れんな政せい治じ家かとして知しられている。
He is known as an incorruptible politician.
清せい廉れんな人ひと柄がらan upright, incorruptible personality
その裁さい判ばん官かんは清せい廉れんな人ひと柄がらで尊そん敬けいされている。
That judge is respected for his upright, incorruptible character.

Kanji

清pure, purify, cleanse
廉bargain, reason, charge

Related words

誠せい実じつN1
誠実 stresses sincerity and faithfulness in personal dealings, while 清廉 stresses moral purity and freedom from corruption, especially in public roles.
潔けっ白ぱくN1
潔白 focuses narrowly on being innocent or free of guilt (often legally), while 清廉 describes a broader upright, incorruptible character.
高こう潔けつ
高潔 emphasizes noble, lofty moral character in general, whereas 清廉 emphasizes specifically resisting corruption and bribery.
廉れん
清廉 is the modern word for moral purity or integrity; 廉 alone is an obsolete term with the same meaning.
清せい貧ひん
清貧 describes living poor but virtuous and content, while 清廉 focuses on moral integrity and freedom from corruption, regardless of one's financial state.

Opposites

不ふ正せいN3
不正 describes corrupt or fraudulent conduct, the direct opposite of the incorruptible integrity implied by 清廉.
腐ふ敗はいN1
清廉 describes a person or system that is honest and free of corruption, the direct opposite of 腐敗 in its moral sense.
汚お職しょくN1
清廉 describes a person or conduct that is upright and incorruptible, the opposite state from 汚職, which denotes corrupt or bribery-tainted behavior.

Don't confuse with

清せい潔けつN3
清潔 shares the kanji 清 but means physically clean or hygienic, while 清廉 describes moral integrity and incorruptibility.

Word family

清せい廉れん潔けっ白ぱく
spotless integrity; absolute honesty; uprightness

Written forms

清せい廉れんUsage90%
Standard kanji form; widely used in formal and written contexts.
セイレンUsage10%

Etymology

Compound of 清 (pure, clean) and 廉 (honest, inexpensive). The combination conveys moral cleanliness and integrity.