僧

音読おんよみ: ソウ

訓読くんよみ: （なし）

画数かくすう: 13

部首ぶしゅ: 亻（にんべん）

Meaning

Monk / Priest / Buddhist Cleric

  • 僧そう — monk / Buddhist priest
  • 僧侶そうりょ — Buddhist monk (formal term)
  • 高僧こうそう — a high-ranking monk / revered monk
  • 小僧こぞう — young monk / temple boy (also: bratty kid, casual)
  • 禅僧ぜんそう — Zen monk

僧 uses the person radical 亻 on the left to mark “a person,” and the right side gives the reading ソウ. Historically, 僧 referred to a member of the Buddhist community — a monk dedicated to training and discipline. Modern Japanese keeps that meaning in words like 僧侶 and 高僧, and even casual words like 小僧 for a young attendant.

小

小僧こぞう — a high-ranking monk / revered monk

高
Creates

高僧こうそう — 高 means “high / noble,” and 僧 is “monk.” A 高僧 is a respected, accomplished monk, often known for wisdom, long training, or moral authority.

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