善意

• Reading: ぜんい
• Romaji: zen'i
• Kanji breakdown: 善 (zen) — good, virtuous; 意 (i) — will, intention
• Pronunciation: /zeɴ.i/

Meaning

Goodwill; good intentions; kind-heartedness.

A noun referring to well-meaning intentions or acts of kindness. Used to describe someone's sincere desire to help without ulterior motives. In legal contexts, 善意 means 'in good faith' (acting without knowledge of a defect or problem), as opposed to 悪意 (bad faith). Everyday usage focuses on genuine kindness.

Examples

1. 善意で言ったつもりだったが、相手を傷つけてしまった。 I meant it as an act of goodwill, but I ended up hurting the other person.
2. 近所の人が善意で荷物を預かってくれた。 A neighbor kindly held onto our package out of goodwill.
3. 彼の善意を疑うべきではない。 We shouldn't doubt his good intentions.

Usage Guide

Context: interpersonal, law, ethics

Tone: positive

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 善意. 善 (zen) means good or virtuous, and 意 (i) means will or intention. Together they describe a virtuous or well-meaning intention.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal