義
righteousness, justice, morality, honor, loyalty, meaning
Readings
On'yomi
- ギ
Kun'yomi
—
Nanori
- ただし
- ちか
- のり
- よし
Meaning
義 centers on a sense of moral rightness: acting with justice, honor, and loyalty. The 'meaning' sense is a natural extension, as something's true meaning is its righteous essence.
Most common words using 義
24 of 903- 主義しゅぎN3
doctrine; rule; principle; -ism
- 正義せいぎN1
justice; right; righteousness
- 義務ぎむN3
duty; obligation; responsibility
- 定義ていぎN1
definition
- 講義こうぎN4
lecture
- 意義いぎN2
meaning; significance
- 名義めいぎN1
name (esp. on a deed, contract, work, etc.); formal name; published name
- 義理ぎりN1
duty; sense of duty; honor; honour; decency; courtesy; debt of gratitude; social obligation
- 義父ぎふN1
father-in-law
- 有意義ゆういぎN1
significant; useful; meaningful; worthwhile; valuable; of interest
- 義母ぎぼN1
mother-in-law
- 忠義ちゅうぎ
loyalty; devotion
- 義務付けぎむづけ
obligation
- 義兄ぎけい
brother-in-law (spouse's older brother or older sister's husband)
- 大義たいぎ
great cause; moral law; justice
- 義弟ぎてい
brother-in-law (spouse's younger brother or younger sister's husband)
- 義姉ぎし
sister-in-law (spouse's older sister or older brother's wife)
- 義援金ぎえんきん
donation money (esp. disaster relief or charity); contribution
- 仁義じんぎ
humanity and justice (esp. in Confucianism); virtue
- 道義どうぎ
morality; moral principles
- 疑義ぎぎ
doubt
- 信義しんぎ
faith; fidelity; loyalty
- 義妹ぎまい
sister-in-law (spouse's younger sister or younger brother's wife)
- 大義名分たいぎめいぶん
just cause; good reason; pretext; justification
Study
Etymology
義 combines 羊 (sheep) and 我 (I, self). The traditional explanation is that a sheep represents a sacrificial animal used in rituals to uphold righteousness and justice, with 我 possibly contributing a phonetic element. The idea is that righteousness involves self-sacrifice for a higher moral order.
Meaning mnemonic
A sheep (羊) stands over me (我), reminding me to act with righteousness and honor, even if it requires personal sacrifice.
Reading mnemonic
For ギ, imagine a righteous knight in shining armor giving a key (ギ) to justice: key -> ギ, and the knight's honor unlocks the door to morality.