義理|ぎりgiri[2]odaka (tail-high)
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- no-adjectiveduty; sense of duty; honor; honour; decency; courtesy; debt of gratitude; social obligation義理だけの拍手をもらう。↗It was just polite applause.
- no-adjectivein-law; relation by marriage
- 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


