義 means “righteousness, duty”

ぎ · gi

Also: justice, morality, honor

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ギ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 5 · 13 strokes

The story

A sheep (羊), the perfect offering, over 我, a halberd that came to mean I: what is right, carried by me. 正義 is justice, 義務 duty, and 義理チョコ is the obligation chocolate handed to coworkers on Valentine's Day.

Used in 義務 (gimu, duty/obligation), 正義 (seigi, justice), and 義理 (giri, social obligation)

More from Loyalty & Duty

• 善 good
• 孝 filial piety
• 徳 virtue
• 忠 loyalty
• 誠 sincerity
• 倫 ethics
• 仁 benevolence
• 貞 chastity
• 慈 mercy
• 衷 innermost feelings

Learn 義 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.