1.
obligation; debt of gratitude; favor received
A deep sense of moral indebtedness to someone who has helped you. Implies a duty to reciprocate the kindness, rooted in the Japanese cultural value of mutual obligation.
恩義を感じている。
I feel a debt of gratitude.
先生には大きな恩義がある。
I owe my teacher a great debt of gratitude.
命を救ってくれた恩義は一生忘れない。
I will never forget the debt I owe to the person who saved my life.
Composed of 恩 (kindness, favor) and 義 (duty, righteousness). Refers to the moral obligation one feels toward someone who has provided significant help or kindness. A culturally weighted concept in Japan, where reciprocating favors is deeply important.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 恩義を感じる: to feel a debt of gratitude
- 恩義がある: to be indebted to
- 恩義に報いる: to repay a debt of gratitude
- 恩義を忘れる: to forget one's obligations
- 恩義を受ける: to receive a favor
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 恩: favor, kindness — the kindness itself, without the duty component
- 恩返し: returning a favor — the act of repaying kindness
- 義理: social obligation — a broader concept of duty in social relationships, including those without personal gratitude
CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japanese culture, 恩義 carries significant moral weight. Forgetting or ignoring an 恩義 is considered a serious character flaw. The concept appears frequently in historical dramas and stories about loyalty.