エロ仙人
Ero-sennin
The English phrase "pervy sage" is translated into Japanese as エロ仙人 (Ero-sennin).
The term is used to describe a wise, elderly hermit who is obsessed with erotic things. Ero-Sennin is commonly used informally to refer to the character.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a compound of the loanword エロ (ero) and the native word 仙人 (sennin).
How do you pronounce it?
Ero-sennin
Did you know?
- In Japanese folklore, an actual 仙人 is expected to be a figure of profound purity and detachment from worldly desires, making the addition of エロ a deliberate and humorous contradiction.
- Japanese has several words for 'pervert', but エロ is specifically used for a fascination with eroticism, whereas 変態 (hentai) refers more broadly to abnormal behavior.
- While エロ is used here as a prefix, it is a shortened version of the English word 'erotic' that has evolved into a distinct Japanese category of media and culture.
Examples in context
- 彼はエロ仙人のような格好をしている。Kare wa ero senjin no yōna kakkō o shite iru.He looks like a pervy sage.
- その物語に出てくるのはエロ仙人だ。Sono monogatari ni detekuru no wa ero senjin da.The character in that story is a pervy sage.
- エロ仙人が山に住んでいるという噂だ。Ero senjin ga yama ni sunde iru to iu uwasa da.There is a rumor that a pervy sage lives in the mountains.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a character from a manga.
- 結衣 Yuiこの漫画のキャラクターは面白いね。Kono manga no kyarakutā wa omoshiroi ne.This manga character is interesting, isn't he?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、エロ仙人がすごく個性的だよ。Un, ero senjin ga sugoku koseiteki da yo.Yeah, the pervy sage is very unique.
- 結衣 Yui大翔君は、彼みたいな性格になりたいの？Hiroto-kun wa, kare mitaina seikaku ni naritai no?Hiroto, do you want to have a personality like his?
- 大翔 Hirotoいや、絶対に嫌だよ。Iya, zettai ni iya da yo.No, definitely not.
