義|ぎgi[1]atamadaka (head-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. no-adjectivemorality; righteousness; justice; honour (honor)
  2. no-adjectivemeaning
  3. no-adjective, Buddhismteachings; doctrine
  4. noun, noun (prefix)nonconsanguineous relationship (i.e. of in-laws)
  5. noun, noun (prefix)prosthesis
Synonyms & antonyms
  • 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

Japanese definitions
  1. (ギ)儒教じゅきょうの徳目とくもくのひとつ。孔子こうしが重視じゅうしした「仁ひとし」に次つぐものとして孟子もうしにより強調きょうちょうされる。仁ひとしが社会しゃかい一般いっぱんにおける普遍的ふへんてきな道徳どうとく観かんであるのに対たいして、義ぎは個別こべつ具体的ぐたいてきな行為こういに対たいして正ただしく報むくいること(恩義おんぎ:恩おんに対たいし正まさしく報むくいること、義務ぎむ 等とう)を重視じゅうしする。
  2. (ギ)キリスト教きりすときょうの概念がいねんで、「罪つみ」に対立たいりつする概念がいねん。ギリシア語ごディカイオシュネー(Δικαιοσυνη)、ラテン語らてんごユスティティア(justitia(iustitia))の訳わけ。
  3. (ギ)道義どうぎ。
  4. (ギ)道理どうり。条理じょうり。
  5. (ギ)意味いみ。
  6. (ギ)血縁けつえんによらない関係かんけい。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
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