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義理

ぎり

social obligation; duty; debt of gratitude; decency; (in-law) relation by marriage

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 義理で拍手をした。

    ぎりではくしゅをした。

    It was just polite applause.

  2. 彼は義理の兄です。

    かれはぎりのあにです。

    He is my brother-in-law.

  3. 世話になった人に義理を欠くわけにはいかない。

    せわになったひとにぎりをかくわけにはいかない。

    I can hardly fail in my obligations to someone who has helped me.

  4. 義理と人情の板挟みになり、彼は何も言えなかった。

    ぎりとにんじょうのいたばさみになり、かれはなにもいえなかった。

    Caught between duty and human feeling, he could say nothing.

Common patterns

義理を欠く
to fail in one's obligations
義理と人情
duty and human feeling
義理チョコ
obligation chocolate (given out of duty on Valentine's Day)

Memory tip

A cultural keyword: what you owe socially to someone who did something for you, felt as a debt rather than affection — hence 義理チョコ. Separately, 義理の + family term means the relation is by marriage.

Kanji in this word

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What does 義理 mean?