義理|ぎりgiri[2]odaka (tail-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. no-adjectiveduty; sense of duty; honor; honour; decency; courtesy; debt of gratitude; social obligation
    義理ぎりだけの拍手はくしゅをもらう。↗
    It was just polite applause.
  2. no-adjectivein-law; relation by marriage
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym義務ぎむNeutralAn objective legal or moral obligation; 「義理」 is the sense of duty felt in social give-and-take, doing right by people.
  • Related責務せきむWrittenFormal, written word for duties one is bound to fulfill; solemn in tone. 「義理」 is moral duty in everyday human relations.
  • Related責任せきにんNeutralResponsibility for an outcome; the broadest of these words. 「義理」 is doing something because social ties leave you no choice.

Use 「義理」 for the sense of duty in social give-and-take, as in 「義理チョコ」; it also means an in-law, as in 「義理の母」. For legal or moral obligations say 「義務」, for the duties of a role 「責務」, and for responsibility 「責任」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. (原義げんぎであるが、近年きんねんの使用しよう例れいはまれ)筋道すじみちだった正ただしいこと。道理どうり。
  2. 社会しゃかい生活せいかつを円滑えんかつにおくる上うえで、当然とうぜんに、またやむをえず行おこなわなければならないこと。
  3. 立場たちば上じょう、相手あいてに対たいして行おこなえること。道理どうり。条理じょうり。
  4. 家族かぞく関係かんけいにおいて、血縁けつえん関係かんけいはないが、婚姻こんいんなど社会的しゃかいてき約束事やくそくごとによりそれに準じゅんずる関係かんけいとなったもの。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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