Archaic term for intelligence, wisdom, or virtue. Rarely used independently in modern Japanese; appears in classical texts and some compound words.
In classical literature, '賢' refers to a person possessing both wisdom and virtue.
wise person; sage
wise; sensible; prudent
wise person; sage; virtuous person · unrefined sake
great sage
the Seven Wise Men (of Confucius's Analects) · Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove
excellent wisdom; superior intellect
ancient sage; wise men of old
wise men of the past; ancient sages
ancient sage
The kanji 賢 has been used since classical Chinese to denote wisdom and virtue. In Japanese, the standalone reading けん is archaic and now mainly found in compounds or literary contexts.
saints and sages
you all; gentlemen; wise individuals
wise master; wise lord
wise elder brother; polite term for another's older brother or senior
wise man; sage