Appendix:Gikun Usage in Meiji Version of Japanese Bible/神聖

Japanese

Kanji in this term
神	聖
きよ(め)
Grade: 3	Grade: 6
irregular

Alternative spelling
神聖 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Gikun word derived by applying Chinese-derived spelling 神聖 (“sacredness”), a term which decomposes into 神 (“God”) + 聖 (“holy”), to realis form of native Japanese verb きよむ (kiyomu, “to sanctify”) thus denoting sanctification as God making something holy.

Verb

神聖 (きよ)む(kiyo.mu, the archaic form of 清 (きよ)める, 浄 (きよ)める, kiyo.meru) → 神聖(しんせい) (shinsei)

1. sanctify (make holy by an act of God)