1.
chivalrous spirit; sense of honor and compassion for the weak
A noble character trait of standing up for the disadvantaged and acting righteously, even at personal cost.
彼は義侠心の強い人だ。
He is a man with a strong sense of chivalry.
義侠心から弱い者を助けた。
Out of a sense of justice, I helped the weaker person.
義侠心に溢れた彼は、困っている人を見ると放っておけない性格で、周囲から慕われている。
Full of chivalrous spirit, he has a personality that can't ignore people in trouble, and he is well-loved by those around him.
A compound of 義侠 (chivalry/gallantry) and 心 (spirit/heart). The term evokes the spirit of standing up against injustice, protecting the weak, and acting selflessly for the greater good.
The concept is deeply embedded in Japanese popular culture through figures like 任侠 (chivalrous yakuza) in period dramas and the samurai ethos of protecting the powerless. While it can describe anyone with a strong moral compass, it often carries a slightly old-fashioned or literary flavor.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 義侠心が強い: to have a strong sense of chivalry
- 義侠心に溢れる: to be full of chivalrous spirit
- 義侠心から: out of a sense of chivalry
- 義侠心に駆られる: to be driven by chivalrous spirit
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 正義感: sense of justice (more general, modern usage)
- 任侠: chivalry (often associated with yakuza or outlaw figures)
- 侠気: gallant spirit