1.
salvation, relief, rescue, saving grace
The act of saving or being saved from danger, suffering, or despair. Can be concrete (physical rescue) or abstract (spiritual salvation, emotional relief).
彼の言葉が救いになった。
His words were a source of comfort.
救いを求めて教会を訪れた。
I visited the church seeking salvation.
暗い話の中で、最後に希望が見えたのがせめてもの救いだった。
In the midst of a dark story, seeing hope at the end was at least some consolation.
USAGE:
Derived from the verb 救う (to save, to rescue). Often used in emotional or spiritual contexts. The phrase せめてもの救い means "at least some consolation" or "the one saving grace," and is very common.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 救いを求める: to seek salvation/help
- 救いの手: a helping hand
- せめてもの救い: at least some consolation
- 救いがない: hopeless, beyond help
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 救助: rescue (physical, more official)
- 救済: relief, aid (institutional, formal)
- 慰め: consolation, comfort (emotional)