Word in Japanese/virtue
Loyalty in Japanese
Loyalty translates as 忠誠 (chuusei). Below is a full breakdown with stroke counts, alternate writings, an example sentence, and tattoo design notes.
What it means
忠誠 (chuusei, ちゅうせい) means loyalty.
| Kanji | Meaning | Strokes | On'yomi | Kun'yomi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 忠 | loyalty, faithfulness | 8 | chuu | — |
| 誠 | sincerity, truth | 13 | sei | makoto |
Alternate writings
Japanese often offers more than one valid kanji for a concept. The alternates below carry slightly different nuance — read them carefully before choosing.
loyalty in the samurai sense — devotion to a lord or master
single-kanji form, often used as a name component
Compounds and related words
Common Japanese vocabulary built around this kanji.
| Word | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 忠実 | chuujitsu | faithful, devoted |
| 忠誠心 | chuuseishin | loyalty, allegiance |
Example sentence
彼は会社への忠誠を誓った。
Kare wa kaisha e no chuusei o chikatta.
He swore loyalty to the company.
Tattoo design notes
忠誠 is the modern, neutral word for loyalty in personal, military, or organisational contexts. 忠義 is the historical samurai term used in classical literature and bushido contexts — it carries a feudal lord-and-retainer connotation. For a tattoo evoking samurai-era loyalty, 忠義 is more thematic; for general modern loyalty, 忠誠 is correct.
Cultural notes
忠 is one of the cardinal Confucian virtues alongside 義 (righteousness) and 礼 (propriety), and 忠 is heavily associated with samurai ethics in Japanese tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say loyalty in Japanese?
Loyalty in Japanese is 忠誠, romanised as chuusei and written in hiragana as ちゅうせい. 忠 is one of the cardinal Confucian virtues alongside 義 (righteousness) and 礼 (propriety), and 忠 is heavily associated with samurai ethics in Japanese tradition.
What does the kanji 忠誠 mean?
忠 means "loyalty, faithfulness" (8 strokes; on'yomi: chuu; kun'yomi: —). 誠 means "sincerity, truth" (13 strokes; on'yomi: sei; kun'yomi: makoto). Together the word reads as chuusei.
What is the difference between 忠誠 and 忠義?
忠誠 (chuusei) is the standard form: 忠 is one of the cardinal Confucian virtues alongside 義 (righteousness) and 礼 (propriety), and 忠 is heavily associated with samurai ethics in Japanese tradition.. 忠義 (chuugi) is different — loyalty in the samurai sense — devotion to a lord or master. Pick based on the exact nuance you want to convey.
Is 忠誠 a good kanji for a tattoo?
忠誠 is the modern, neutral word for loyalty in personal, military, or organisational contexts. 忠義 is the historical samurai term used in classical literature and bushido contexts — it carries a feudal lord-and-retainer connotation. For a tattoo evoking samurai-era loyalty, 忠義 is more thematic; for general modern loyalty, 忠誠 is correct.
How do you write loyalty in hiragana?
In hiragana, loyalty is written as ちゅうせい, which represents the sound chuusei. The kanji form 忠誠 is used in everyday writing; hiragana is used when the kanji is too difficult, for emphasis, or in children's text.
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