仁义 (rén yì) — benevolence and righteousness (Confucian virtue of humane moral integrity)

Definition

A classical Confucian compound pairing 仁 (humane love) with 义 (moral rightness) — used to describe a person's character or ideals, not everyday behavior. Far more literary and elevated than 善良 or 正义.

noun
benevolence and righteousness (Confucian virtue of humane moral integrity)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 仁义。
    Tā shì yí wèi chóng shàng rén yì de jūn zǐ.
    He is a gentleman who advocates benevolence and righteousness.
  • ，仁义。
    Zài rú jiā sī xiǎng zhōng, rén yì shì zuò rén zuì zhòng yào de zhǔn zé.
    In Confucianism, benevolence and righteousness are the most important principles for being a person.
  • 仁义。
    Gǔ dài xǔ duō yīng xióng dōu bèi chēng wéi rén yì zhī shì.
    In ancient times, many heroes were called people of benevolence and righteousness.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

仁rénbenevolence
义yìrighteousness

仁 means benevolence and 义 righteousness, jointly naming the Confucian virtues.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
二二èr
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén仁rén
Same sound today

仁 is built from 人 and 二; 人 gives the sound, and 二 gives the meaning.

Open 仁 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

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