義|ぎgi[1]atamadaka (head-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
- no-adjectivemorality; righteousness; justice; honour (honor)
- no-adjectivemeaning
- no-adjective, Buddhismteachings; doctrine
- noun, noun (prefix)nonconsanguineous relationship (i.e. of in-laws)
- noun, noun (prefix)prosthesis
- Synonym道義どうぎNeutralNeutral word for the moral principles people should follow, as in 「道義的責任」; 「義」 stresses justice and giri, and can also mean 'meaning'.
- Synonym徳義とくぎWrittenWritten word for morals and moral virtue; 「義」 instead stresses justice and giri.
- Related倫理りんりNeutralNeutral word for ethics — the academic field and ethical norms; 「義」 stresses justice and giri instead.
- Related道徳どうとくNeutralThe most general word for social moral standards; 「義」 centers on justice and personal loyalty.
- Related徳行とっこうWrittenWritten word for virtuous acts and good deeds; 「義」 instead stresses justice and giri.
- RelatedモラルNeutralLoanword for moral values and professional ethics, as in 「モラルハザード」.
- RelatedモラリティーWrittenLoanword for morality; rare even in written prose — in everyday use say 「道徳」 or 「モラル」.
- Related人倫じんりんWrittenWritten word for orderly human relations; 「義」 focuses on justice and giri instead.
- Related善徳ぜんとくWrittenWritten word for virtues, goodness of character and conduct; 「義」 stresses justice and giri.
- Related道徳性どうとくせいWrittenAcademic term for moral character, the quality of being moral; 「義」 stresses justice and giri.
- Related倫理性りんりせいWrittenAcademic term for the ethical quality of conduct; 「義」 stresses justice and giri.
- Antonym不義ふぎWrittenWritten antonym: contrasts with 「義」 as injustice to justice — unrighteousness and betrayal.
- Antonym悪あくNeutralNeutral antonym: opposes 「義」 on the right–wrong axis, meaning evil and wickedness.
Use 「義」 for justice, righteousness and giri, as in 「義を見てせざるは」. For moral standards in general pick 「道徳」, for ethics as a field 「倫理」, for moral principles 「道義」, and for professional ethics 「モラル」. The antonyms are 「不義」 (injustice) and 「悪」 (evil).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only


