聖

It is a phono-semantic compound character, with multiple interpretations.

Main Components:

耳 (귀 이, “ear”) — indicates meaning, related to hearing or listening;

呈 (드릴 정, “to present”) — indicates sound/phonetic component.

Alternatively, it may also be interpreted as:

𦔻 (old form of 聽, “to listen”) + 𡈼 (an old form of “distinguished” or “outstanding”).

Originally derived from the verb “to hear/listen” (廳)

From the idea of a person who listens well - someone who hears divine messages or is highly wise and virtuous.

In ancient society, someone with “good ears” (e.g., hearing the dangers of the wild or the will of the gods) would be respected - leading to the notion of a sage or holy figure. This led to the concept of 聖人 (sage/saint) — a person whose wisdom and virtue are recognized and “heard” by all.

聖人 – sage, saint;

神聖 – sacred, divine;

성스러운 – holy (as a native Korean adjective).