How to Say "Holy" in Japanese

聖なる

sei naru[se̞ː na̠ɾɯ̟]

The English word 'holy' is translated into Japanese as 聖なる (sei naru).

The term 聖なる can be translated as 'holy' or 'sacred'.

Meaning: revered in a religion (adj)

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In Japanese media, the prefix 聖 is often added to names of people or places to create a 'fan' term, such as 聖地巡礼, which means 'pilgrimage' to a real-life location from an anime.
While 聖なる means 'holy', Japanese often uses the word 穢れ (kegare) to describe the opposite of holiness. Rather than meaning 'sin' in a moral sense, it refers to a state of 'impurity' or 'stagnation' that must be ritually washed away.
Japanese has a specific term 御神体 (goshintai) for a physical object that houses a holy spirit. This object is often kept hidden from public view, meaning the 'holy' essence is felt through a mirror or a curtain rather than seen.

聖なる祭り
Holy festival
神聖な場所
Holy place
この景色めっちゃ神聖やな
This scenery is so holy (amazing)!
なんて超神聖な場所なんだ！
What an insanely holy place!
聖なる川の音を聞きました。
seinaru kawa no oto o kikimashita.
I heard the sound of a holy river.
ここは聖なる場所です。
koko wa seinaru basho desu.
This is a holy place.
聖なる森を歩きました。
seinaru mori o arukimashita.
I walked through a holy forest.

Hiroto and Yui are visiting an ancient shrine.

大翔 Hiroto

ここはとても静かで、聖なる雰囲気ですね。
Koko wa totemo shizuka de, seinaru fun-iki desu ne.
It is very quiet here, and has a holy atmosphere, doesn't it?
結衣 Yui

本当にそうですね。心が洗われるようです。
Hontō ni sō desu ne. Kokoro ga arawareru yō desu.
It really is. I feel as if my soul is being cleansed.
大翔 Hiroto

結衣さんは、こういう場所が好きですか？
Yui-san wa, kōiu basho ga suki desu ka?
Yui, do you like places like this?
結衣 Yui

はい、落ち着くので大好きです。
Hai, ochitsuku node daisuki desu.
Yes, I love them because they are calming.

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