忠実|ちゅうじつchuujitsu[0]heiban (flat)

1. na-adjective, nounfaithful; devoted; loyal; honest; true
   あの翻訳ほんやくは原文げんぶんに忠実ちゅうじつだそうだ。↗

   That translation is said to be true to the original.

• Synonym忠義ちゅうぎWrittenWritten/formal prose. Devoted loyalty to one's lord, as in 「忠義を尽くす」; it carries a feudal flavor. Unlike 忠実, it cannot describe staying true to an original.
• Synonym忠誠ちゅうせいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Loyalty to one's country, organization or lord; common in 「忠誠を誓う」 and 「忠誠心」. It is loyalty itself, without 忠実's 'true to the original' sense.
• Synonym律儀りちぎNeutralNeutral. True to obligations and scrupulous in conduct, as in 「律儀な人」. It praises a person's steady trustworthiness and lacks 忠実's 'true to the original' sense.
• Synonym貞実ていじつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Unwavering devotion, often to a spouse, plus honest sincerity; rare today. 忠実 also covers being true to an original, which this word does not.
• Synonym忠順ちゅうじゅんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Loyalty shown in obeying a superior's orders, stressing obedience; rare today. In everyday speech use 「従順」 or 「忠実」 instead.
• Related誠実せいじつNeutralNeutral. Describes an honest, trustworthy character, as in 「誠実な人柄」. It judges personality and, unlike 忠実, has no sense of staying true to an original.
• Related篤実とくじつWrittenWritten/formal prose. Sincere, kind-hearted and steady in character; rare today. In daily speech say 「誠実」 or 「真面目」 instead.
• Related忠良ちゅうりょうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Loyalty to a lord or country combined with good conduct; old-fashioned and rare today. 忠実 is not restricted to lords or nations.
• Related揺るぎないゆるぎないWrittenWritten/formal prose. Firm and unshaking, as in 「揺るぎない信念」; it stresses a secure stance or position and does not itself mean loyalty to a person.
• Related物堅いものがたいNeutralNeutral. Honest, proper and dependable; used to evaluate character but uncommon. In daily speech 「律儀」 is the usual word for this quality.
• Related篤厚とっこうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Warm-hearted and sincere, valuing personal bonds; it stresses kindness toward people rather than devoted service to duty, and is rare today.
• Antonym背信はいしんWrittenWritten/formal prose. Betrayal of trust, as in 「背信行為」; it stresses the act of betrayal itself, standing opposite the trustworthiness of 忠実.
• Antonym不忠ふちゅうWrittenWritten/formal prose. Disloyalty or breach of faith; the opposite of 忠実 in its devoted-service sense, with no bearing on faithfulness to an original.

Use 「忠実」 for devoted, dutiful service or for staying true to the original, as in 「職務に忠実」 and 「原作に忠実」. For an honest character say 「誠実」, for loyalty itself 「忠誠」, for dutiful keeping of obligations 「律儀」; the opposites are 「不忠」 and 「背信」.

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

1. 真心まごころをもって務つとめを果はたすさま。
2. 省略しょうりゃくや誤あやまりがなく、元もとのものの内容ないようや雰囲気ふんいきをそのまま伝つたえるさま。