1.
goodwill, kindness, favor
A feeling of friendliness or kindness toward someone. Refers to benevolent feelings or considerate actions done out of genuine care.
ご好意に感謝します。
I appreciate your kindness.
彼の好意を無駄にしたくない。
I don't want to waste his kindness.
好意で言っているのだから、素直に受け取った方がいい。
They're saying it out of goodwill, so you should accept it graciously.
2.
romantic interest, affection
Romantic feelings or attraction toward someone. A somewhat indirect and understated way to describe having feelings for someone.
彼女に好意を持っている。
I have feelings for her.
相手が好意を寄せていることに気づいた。
I realized that the other person had feelings for me.
彼の態度から好意があることは明らかだった。
It was obvious from his attitude that he had romantic feelings.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 好意を持つ: to have goodwill toward / to have romantic feelings for
- 好意を寄せる: to show affection, to have feelings for (romantic)
- 好意に甘える: to take advantage of someone's kindness
- 好意で: out of goodwill
- ご好意: your kindness (polite)
SIMILAR WORDS:
好意 vs 親切: Both express kindness, but 好意 emphasizes the feeling behind the action, while 親切 emphasizes the kind act itself. 好意 can also imply romantic interest, which 親切 cannot.
好意 vs 厚意: Both are read こうい and mean goodwill/kindness. 厚意 is more formal and emphasizes deep, heartfelt kindness. 好意 is more general and can include romantic overtones.
Related Words
Synonym:
親切 (kind act)