慈悲

• 読み: じひ
• ローマ字: jihi
• 漢字の分解: 慈 (ji/itsuku) — compassion, loving-kindness; 悲 (hi/kana) — sorrow, compassion
• 発音: /dʑiçi/

意味

Mercy; compassion; benevolence; charity. Deep sympathy for suffering beings, accompanied by the wish to alleviate that suffering.

A formal Buddhist term (from Sanskrit maitrī-karuṇā) describing two aspects of compassion: 慈 (loving-kindness, wishing happiness for all) and 悲 (compassion, wishing freedom from suffering). Widely used in secular contexts to mean mercy or leniency. Appears in fixed expressions like 慈悲を垂れる (to bestow mercy) and お慈悲 (honorific form). Distinguished from 慈愛 by its broader, more universal and often impersonal scope.

例文

1. 裁判官は初犯であることを考慮し、被告に慈悲を示した。
2. 仏教では、慈悲はすべての生命に向けられるべきものとされる。
3. 彼は慈悲の心で、路上で倒れていた老人を助け起こした。

使い方ガイド

場面: religion, law, ethics, literature

トーン: neutral

起源と歴史

A Buddhist term introduced from Sanskrit via Chinese. 慈 (maitrī — loving-kindness) and 悲 (karuṇā — compassion) together define the ideal compassionate attitude in Buddhist ethics.

文化的背景

時代: Classical

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal