善意|ぜんいzen'i[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounvirtuous mind
2. noungood intentions; good will
   公平こうへいに評ひょうすれば、彼かれは善意ぜんいからやったのだと認みとめなければならない。↗

   To do him justice, we must admit that his intentions were good.
3. nounpositive mindset
4. noun, lawbona fides; good faith

• Synonym好意こういNeutralCovers fondness or affection for someone as well as kindly feeling; 「善意」 is goodwill meant to help the other person, and in law also means not knowing the facts.
• Synonym厚意こういWrittenWritten/formal prose: the deep kindness someone shows you, as in 「ご厚意」, seen from the receiving side. 「善意」 is the broader word for meaning well toward others.
• Related誠意せいいNeutralSincerity — an honest, earnest heart. 「善意」 is about caring for the other person rather than about being sincere.
• Related慈悲じひWrittenWritten/formal prose: mercy or compassion, with Buddhist overtones. 「善意」 is everyday goodwill, not pity or mercy.
• Related温情おんじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose: warm, kindly human feeling. 「善意」 is the good intention itself, not a warm-hearted manner.
• RelatedグッドウィルWrittenLoanword, mostly for the value of the trust and favor a company or person has earned, i.e. business goodwill. For everyday good intentions, say 「善意」.
• Related仁心じんしんWrittenWritten/formal prose: a benevolent, humane heart. Much more literary than 「善意」, the everyday word for good intentions.
• Related仁徳じんとくWrittenWritten/formal prose: benevolence as a virtue of character. 「善意」 is the mindset of caring for someone, not a moral quality.
• Antonym悪意あくいNeutralThe direct opposite: ill will or malice. In legal use it is the counterpart of 「善意」, meaning one knew the facts.

Use 「善意」 for goodwill meant to help someone; in law it also means not knowing the facts, as in 「善意の第三者」. For fondness for a person use 「好意」, for kindness received use 「厚意」, for sincerity use 「誠意」; the opposite is 「悪意」. The others (慈悲, 温情, グッドウィル, 仁心, 仁徳) are written/formal terms for mercy, warmth, business goodwill, and benevolence.

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

1. 相手あいてのためによかれと思おもう気持きもち。好意こうい。
2. 民事みんじ法ほうにおいて、ある事実じじつについての消極的しょうきょくてき不知ふちまたは積極的せっきょくてき信頼しんらいをいう。特とくに第三者だいさんしゃが法律的ほうりつてき事実じじつに関かんして、知しらない場合ばあいに用もちいる。善悪ぜんあくの価値かち判断はんだんとは無関係むかんけいである。
3. 既知きちの事実じじつに照てらして、「よい」と知しっていること、および、「よくない」とは知しらないこと。