佳人(かじん)

かじん
noun
beautiful woman; beauty
formalliteraryperson
1. beautiful woman; beauty
A literary and somewhat classical term for a beautiful woman. More refined and elegant in nuance than everyday words like 美人.
才子(さいし)佳人(かじん)のカップル。
A couple of a talented man and a beautiful woman.
佳人(かじん)薄命(はくめい)という言葉(ことば)がある。
There is a saying that beauties are destined to die young.
明治(めいじ)時代(じだい)の小説(しょうせつ)には佳人(かじん)という表現(ひょうげん)がよく出(で)てくる。
The word kajin appears frequently in Meiji-era novels.

A classical and literary word for a beautiful woman, carrying a refined and elegant nuance.

Common expressions

  • 佳人(かじん)薄命(はくめい): beauties are fated to die young (a well-known proverb)
  • 才子(さいし)佳人(かじん): a talented man and a beautiful woman (an ideal pairing)

CONTRAST WITH 美人(びじん):
美人(びじん) is the standard modern word for a beautiful woman and is used in everyday conversation. 佳人(かじん) sounds old-fashioned and literary, mainly appearing in historical texts, classical literature, and set phrases. You would not use 佳人(かじん) in casual speech.

Etymology

The kanji 佳(か) means 'excellent' or 'beautiful,' giving the word a sense of refined beauty rather than just physical attractiveness.

Related Words

Synonym: 美人(びじん) (beautiful woman (modern/everyday))
general
Added 2026.3.21 18:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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