信義|しんぎshingi[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounfaith; fidelity; loyalty

• Synonym誠実せいじつNeutralNeutral and common in everyday use. Evaluates a person as honest and earnest; 「信義」 instead centers on keeping one's word and acting with moral duty.
• Synonym信実しんじつWrittenWritten/formal but rare even in prose. Means being sincere and free of pretense as a person; unlike 「信義」 it does not stress keeping promises.
• Related忠義ちゅうぎWrittenWritten/formal. Devotion to one's lord or master, with a feudal flavor; 「信義」 is about keeping promises and moral duty, not tied to a superior-subordinate bond.
• Related忠誠ちゅうせいWrittenWritten/formal. Allegiance to a state or organization, as in 「忠誠を誓う」; stresses obedience and service, while 「信義」 stresses honoring one's word.
• Antonym背信はいしんWrittenWritten/formal. The direct opposite of 「信義」: breaking faith, as in 「背信行為」; typical of legal and news writing.
• Antonym不信ふしんNeutralNeutral. Opposes 「信義」 only when it means breaking promises or insincerity; in the sense of distrust it is not an antonym.

Choose 「信義」 for keeping promises and acting with moral duty, toward people or organizations alike (「信義を重んじる」, 「信義則」). Use 「誠実」 for personal honesty, 「忠誠」/「忠義」 for loyalty to a superior; the opposite is 「背信」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 約束やくそくを守まもり、道徳的どうとくてきに行動こうどうすること。