noun
man of virtue; wise man; gentleman
Confucian ideal of a morally cultivated person; in modern use, a person of integrity and refined character. Often contrasted with 小人 (しょうじん).
彼はまさに君子と呼ぶにふさわしい人物だ。
He is truly a person worthy of being called a gentleman.
君子は義にさとく、小人は利にさとい。
The gentleman is perceptive about righteousness; the petty person is perceptive about profit.
noun
Historical or literary use for a person of elevated social standing; less common in everyday modern Japanese.
古の君子は、民を治める者を指した。
In ancient times, 君子 referred to those who governed the people.
noun
the Four Gentlemen (plum, chrysanthemum, orchid, bamboo)
Artistic and cultural term, almost always in the compound 四君子 (しくんし). Rarely used alone.
See also: 四君子
四君子は東洋画の伝統的な画題である。
The Four Gentlemen are a traditional subject in East Asian painting.