俳人(はいじん)

俳人(はいじん) refers to a person who composes 俳句(はいく) (haiku), the traditional 5-7-5 syllable form of Japanese poetry.

Forms

俳(はい) (haiku-related) + 人(じん) (person). The same 人(じん) suffix appears in 歌人(かじん) (waka poet) and 詩人(しじん) (poet).

Cultural note

The best-known 俳人(はいじん):

• 松尾(まつお)芭蕉(ばしょう) (Matsuo Basho) — Edo period, most celebrated
• 与謝(よさ)蕪村(ぶそん) (Yosa Buson) — Edo period, also a painter
• 小林(こばやし)一茶(いっさ) (Kobayashi Issa) — Edo period, known for warmth
• 正岡(まさおか)子規(しき) (Masaoka Shiki) — Meiji period, modernized haiku

Similar words

• 歌人(かじん): waka/tanka poet
• 詩人(しじん): poet (general, includes Western-style poetry)
• 俳人(はいじん) is specific to haiku; for someone who writes other forms of poetry, use 詩人(しじん)