恩義

• 読み: おんぎ
• ローマ字: ongi
• 漢字の分解: 恩 (on) — grace, kindness, favour; 義 (gi) — duty, righteousness, obligation
• 発音: /oŋ.ɡi/

意味

Indebtedness; a sense of obligation arising from a favour or kindness received; moral duty to repay someone's goodwill.

Composed of 恩 (grace/favour/kindness) and 義 (duty/righteousness/obligation). Central to traditional Japanese social ethics, 恩義 describes the moral weight one feels when another has been generous or helpful. Distinct from 義務 (legal obligation) in that it arises from personal and social bonds rather than rules. The related concept of 恩返し (repaying a kindness) underlies much of Japanese interpersonal behaviour.

例文

1. 師匠への恩義を感じた弟子は、どんなに苦しい状況でも師のそばを離れなかった。
2. 恩義を忘れた行動は、周囲の信頼を大きく損ない、孤立を招くことになる。
3. 長年支えてくれた地域への恩義を果たすべく、彼女は故郷に戻って活動を続けた。

使い方ガイド

場面: daily life, society, relationships, ethics, tradition

トーン: serious

起源と歴史

恩 (on, grace/kindness/favour, rooted in Confucian ethics) + 義 (gi, duty/righteousness). A compound fusing the reception of goodwill with the moral imperative to reciprocate, reflecting Confucian-influenced Japanese social norms.

文化的背景

時代: Classical–Contemporary

世代: All ages

社会的背景: General