廉潔|れんけつrenketsu[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounhonest; incorruptible; integrity

• Synonym清廉せいれんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Describes a pure heart free of selfish desire; nearly synonymous with 廉潔 but more common, and often in the set phrase 「清廉潔白」.
• Synonym潔いいさぎよいNeutralNeutral. About attitude: decisive and open, ready to take responsibility, as in 「潔く認める」; stresses manner rather than incorruptibility.
• Synonym廉直れんちょくWrittenWritten/formal prose and very rare. Means incorruptible and upright; the similar words 「清廉」 and 「廉潔」 are also formal.
• Related正直しょうじきNeutralNeutral and very common in daily speech. Broadly means honest and truthful; it does not specifically imply freedom from corruption the way 廉潔 does.
• Related誠実せいじつNeutralNeutral. Emphasizes sincerity and consistency between words and actions — being earnest with people — rather than incorruptibility.
• Related実直じっちょくNeutralNeutral. Means honest, steady and dependable, stressing diligence; it does not specifically refer to being incorruptible.
• Related公明正大こうめいせいだいNeutralNeutral four-character compound. Fair, selfless and aboveboard, stressing fairness in one's conduct rather than personal integrity.
• Related真面目まじめNeutralNeutral and common in everyday speech. Means serious and earnest, stressing one's attitude rather than incorruptibility.
• Related良心的りょうしんてきNeutralNeutral. Means conscientious and honest, and is often used for fair prices, as in 「良心的な値段」.
• Related堅気かたぎNeutralNeutral. Refers to an ordinary person with a respectable occupation, contrasted with the underworld; not about integrity itself.
• Related真正直ましょうじきNeutralColloquial and very rare. Means thoroughly honest and upright, stressing that one never lies.
• Related篤実とくじつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means sincere and kind-hearted, stressing warmth and consideration; it does not specifically imply incorruptibility.
• Related物堅いものがたいNeutralColloquial but not much used. Means honest, reliable and rule-abiding, stressing being dutiful rather than incorruptible.
• Related謹直きんちょくWrittenWritten/formal prose. Means cautious, upright and scrupulous, stressing meticulous rigor.
• Antonym汚職おしょくNeutralNeutral antonym. Corruption and bribery by public officials, as in 「汚職事件」 — the direct opposite of 廉潔.
• Antonym腐敗ふはいNeutralNeutral antonym. Corruption or degeneracy, and also the rotting of food; the opposite of 廉潔.

For officials who are free of greed and corruption, use 「清廉」 or 「廉潔」, often as 「清廉潔白」; 「清廉」 is the more common of the two. For honesty in general, 「正直」 and 「誠実」 are the everyday choices. The other near-synonyms each stress a different quality — fairness (公明正大), a decisive attitude (潔い), steadiness (実直), seriousness (真面目) — while 「汚職」 and 「腐敗」 are the antonyms.

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

1. 私欲しよくが無なく、行おこないが正ただしくやましいところが無ないこと。