聖せい域いき

せ

い

き

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

sacred precincts; sanctuary; holy ground

Refers to a physically or ritually consecrated area, such as a shrine, temple, or church ground. Often used in religious or historical contexts.

その神じん社じゃの聖せい域いきには、一いっ般ぱんの人ひとは立たち入いれない。
Ordinary people are not allowed to enter the sacred precincts of that shrine.
彼かれらは聖せい域いきで静しずかに祈いのりを捧ささげた。
They quietly offered prayers in the sanctuary.

noun

off-limits issue; taboo topic; no-go area

Metaphorical extension: a subject, field, or area that is considered untouchable or not open to debate. Common in political, social, or organizational discourse.

その問もん題だいは党とう内ないの聖せい域いきで、誰だれも口くちを出だせない。
That issue is a taboo topic within the party, and no one can speak out about it.
教きょう育いく改かい革かくは長なが年ねん、聖せい域いきとされてきた。
Educational reform has long been regarded as a no-go area.

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Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉を聖せい域いきとするto treat a place as sacred ground / off-limits
この森もりは昔むかしから聖せい域いきとされている。
This forest has long been regarded as sacred ground.
聖せい域いきを守まもるto protect a no-go area/taboo topic from change
業ぎょう界かい団だん体たいはその制せい度どを聖せい域いきとして守まもってきた。
The industry group has protected that system as untouchable.
聖せい域いきに足あしを踏ふみ入いれるto set foot in sacred precincts
許きょ可かなく聖せい域いきに足あしを踏ふみ入いれることは禁きんじられている。
Entering the sacred precincts without permission is forbidden.
聖せい域いきなき〈事こと〉sweeping reform/review with no sacred cows spared
政せい府ふは聖せい域いきなき財ざい政せい改かい革かくを進すすめると発はっ表ぴょうした。
The government announced it would push through fiscal reform with no sacred cows.
〈事こと〉に聖せい域いきはないnothing is off-limits when it comes to X
予よ算さんの見み直なおしに聖せい域いきはないと社しゃ長ちょうは言いった。
The president said nothing was off-limits in the budget review.

Kanji

聖holy, saint, sage
域range, region, limits

Related words

神しん域いき sense 1
神域 refers specifically to the sacred precincts of a Shinto deity, while 聖域 is broader and can denote any consecrated ground or, metaphorically, an untouchable topic.
タブー sense 2
タブー is a general loanword for any forbidden topic or act, while 聖域 specifically frames an issue as untouchable because of its special, protected status.
聖せい地ち sense 1
聖地 usually names a larger holy land or pilgrimage destination (like Mecca), whereas 聖域 refers to a smaller consecrated precinct or an off-limits area in a debate.
禁きん域いき sense 1
禁域 stresses a physically forbidden zone that people must not enter, while 聖域 emphasizes sacredness or inviolability rather than simple prohibition.
サンクチュアリ
聖域 is the traditional Japanese word for a sacred, inviolable place, while サンクチュアリ is the imported loanword often used for the same idea in modern or casual contexts.

Counted with

箇か所しょN2sense 1
For places and spots — locations of damage, faults, or points along something.
所しょN2sense 1
For facilities and premises counted as locations.

Etymology

Compound of 聖 (sei, 'holy, sacred') and 域 (iki, 'area, region'). The metaphorical sense developed from the idea of a sacred space that must not be violated.