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聖上 (せいじょう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

聖せい上じょう

せ

い

じょ

う

Meanings

1

noun

His Majesty the Emperor; the Emperor

A formal, respectful title for the reigning emperor, used in official contexts or historical references. Compare 天皇 (てんのう), the more common term.

See also: 天皇 (てんのう)

聖せい上じょう陛へい下かの御ご臨りん席せきを賜たまわり、式しき典てんが執とり行おこなわれた。
The ceremony was held with the gracious attendance of His Majesty the Emperor.
歴れき史し書しょには「聖せい上じょう」と記しるされることが多おお

Kanji

聖holy, saint, sage
上above, up

Similar words

天皇てんのう
天皇 is the standard, neutral term for the emperor, while 聖上 is a more formal, honorific title used in direct address or official writing.

Etymology

From Chinese 聖上 (shèngshàng), a respectful term for the reigning emperor. The exact historical derivation in Japanese is uncertain, but it has been used as an honorific title for the emperor.

い

。

In historical documents, the emperor is often referred to as 聖上.