義理

• 読み: ぎり
• ローマ字: giri
• 漢字の分解: 義 (righteousness/justice) + 理 (reason/principle) → righteous principle, social duty
• 発音: /ɡi.ɾi/

意味

Social obligation or duty; the sense of indebtedness that compels you to reciprocate favours and maintain social bonds.

義理 governs much of Japanese social interaction, from giving return gifts to attending funerals of distant acquaintances. It can feel burdensome (義理で行く = going out of obligation) but also serves as social glue. In modern casual speech, 義理 often appears with a slightly weary or resigned tone, acknowledging the weight of social expectations.

例文

1. 義理で参加してるだけだから早く帰りたい。
2. 義理を欠くわけにはいかないから、お返しちゃんとしないと。
3. 義理堅い人だから、絶対に恩は忘れないよ。

使い方ガイド

場面: social obligations, gift-giving, workplace relationships, cultural discussion

トーン: dutiful, sometimes resigned

正しい言い方

• 義理堅いね、ちゃんとお返ししてて (You're so dutiful, properly giving return gifts)
• 義理で行くんだけど正直めんどくさい (I'm going out of obligation but honestly it's a hassle)

避ける言い方

• 「義理で来ました」と本人の前で言うのは失礼 (Saying 'I came out of obligation' in front of the person is rude)

よくある間違い

• Confusing 義理 with genuine affection — 義理 specifically implies doing something because social norms require it
• Not understanding compound words like 義理チョコ or 義理堅い where 義理 modifies the meaning significantly

起源と歴史

From Confucian ethics: 義 (righteousness/justice) + 理 (reason/logic). Central to the Japanese social contract, governing reciprocal obligations. Extensively studied by Ruth Benedict in 'The Chrysanthemum and the Sword' (1946).

文化的背景

時代: Confucian origins, foundational to Japanese social structure

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

地域メモ: Used across all of Japan. Understanding 義理 is essential for navigating Japanese social and business relationships.