義 (yì) - Righteousness, justice, morality & meaning, significance

義Tone 4

yì ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

一懿

義 · yì

Righteousness, justice, morality;

meaning, significance;

adopted or artificial (as in relationships);

charitable, public-spirited.

Righteousness, justice, moralitymeaning, significanceadopted or artificial (as in relationships)

Usage highlights

righteousnessjusticemeaningcharityvolunteeradopted son

Synonyms

  • 正义— justice, righteousness
  • 道义— morality and justice

Antonyms

  • 利— profit, benefit (contrasts with selfless righteousness)
  • 不义— unrighteousness, injustice

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He acted out of righteousness (义气).
  • The meaning of this word (词义) is unclear.
  • They adopted a child (义子).
  • She volunteers for charity work (义工).

Collocations

  • righteousness(义气)
  • justice(正义)
  • meaning(意义)
  • charity(义举)
  • volunteer(义工)
  • adopted son(义子)

Idioms

  • Sense of duty and honor(义不容辞)
  • Righteous indignation(义愤填膺)
  • To die for a just cause(舍生取义)
  • Uphold justice(仗义执言)
  • Ungrateful and unjust(忘恩负义)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Central Confucian virtue emphasizing moral duty and proper conduct in relationships.
  • Historically associated with brotherhood and loyalty, as in the 'righteousness' sworn between brothers.
  • In modern contexts, extends to public welfare and charitable acts.

FAQ