Japanese meaning of 清廉潔白
Reading:
せいれんけっぱく (seiren keppaku)
English Translation:
Impeccably upright and incorruptible
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Impeccably upright and incorruptible; free from wrongdoing or moral stain.
Cultural Context:
Benchmark for public officials and executives; appears in election pledges, compliance codes, and scandal coverage—sometimes used defensively (“I am seiren-keppaku”).
私利私欲や不正のない、潔い人格・態度を指す。
政治家・役員の資質として掲げられ、選挙公約やコンプライアンス文書、汚職報道で頻出。自己弁明として使われることもある。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Adjectival noun often used with “な” to describe someone’s moral purity.
Trap for English Speakers
May be misunderstood as only physical cleanliness rather than moral integrity.
Example
Basic Example
彼は清廉潔白な政治家として市民から信頼されている。
He is trusted by citizens as an impeccably upright and incorruptible politician.
Applied Example
その判事は清廉潔白で、賄賂を受け取ることは決してなかった。
The judge was impeccably upright and incorruptible, never accepting a bribe.