律りち義ぎ

also: りつぎ

り

ち

ぎ

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

na-adjective, noun

upright; honest; conscientious; faithful

Describes a person who is scrupulously honest, keeps promises, and follows rules or obligations with a sincere, sometimes overly rigid, sense of duty.

彼かれは律りち義ぎな性せい格かくで、約やく束そくは必かならず守まもる。
He has an upright character and always keeps his promises.
律りち義ぎに毎まい日にち、日にっ記きをつけている。
I conscientiously keep a diary every day.

Written forms

律義Usage31%
- りちぎ
  Standard modern spelling; the reading りちぎ is the most common.
- りつぎ
  rarely-used kana form
  Rare reading; りちぎ is overwhelmingly more common.
律儀Usage66%
- りちぎ
  Alternate kanji form; 律義 is more common in modern usage.
- りつぎ
  rarely-used kana form
りちぎUsage3%
Kana spelling is sometimes used, especially in casual writing.
りつぎ
rarely-used kana form

Kanji

律rhythm, law, regulation
儀ceremony, rule, affair
義righteousness, justice, morality

Similar words

真面目まじめ
真面目 is more about seriousness and diligence, while 律義 emphasizes strict honesty and faithfulness to rules or promises.
誠せい実じつ
誠実 is a broader term for sincerity and faithfulness, often used in formal contexts; 律義 carries a nuance of being methodically or rigidly dutiful.

Etymology

Originally a Buddhist term meaning 'observing the precepts' (律儀), later extended to mean 'upright' or 'faithful' in general. The kanji 律 (law/rule) and 義 (righteousness) reflect the sense of strict moral adherence.