選えらばれし者もの

Meanings

the chosen one; the chosen few

Often used in fantasy, religious, or dramatic contexts to refer to a person or group selected by fate, a higher power, or special criteria. The classical adjective 選ばれし (archaic/literary form of 選ばれた) adds a solemn or epic tone.

伝でん説せつによれば、選えらばれし者ものだけが聖せい剣けんを抜ぬける。
According to legend, only the chosen one can pull out the holy sword.
彼かれらは選えらばれし者ものとして、世せ界かいを救すくう使し命めいを負おった。
As the chosen ones, they were tasked with saving the world.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

選elect, select, choose
者someone, person
撰composing, editing, compiling
択choose, select, elect

Related words

選えらばれた者もの
Modern equivalent using the standard past tense 選ばれた instead of the archaic 選ばれし. 選ばれし者 sounds more epic or old-fashioned.

Built from

選えらばれる+者もの

Written forms

選えらばれし者もの
Standard kanji spelling using the common 選ぶ and 者.
選えらばれしもの
Kana spelling of 者; common in less formal or fantasy contexts.
撰えらばれし者もの
Rare variant using 撰, which can imply careful selection.
択えらばれし者もの
Rare variant using 択, which can imply choosing among options.

Etymology

From the classical Japanese attributive form 選ばれし (the archaic 連体形 of the verb 選ぶ 'to choose') + 者 'person'. The form し is the classical equivalent of modern た.