正義

The term refers to a standard of what is right, fair, and just. In Japanese, it encompasses both the objective, legal sense of justice (fairness and equity) and a more subjective, moral sense of righteousness (personal conviction of what is "correct").

In daily conversation, it is frequently used in the context of personal beliefs. Phrases like "my own justice" (自分なりの正義) highlight the tension between different people's versions of what is right, often implying that one person's justice may be another's injustice.

An important related concept is "seigikan" (正義感), which refers to a strong sense of justice or a moral impulse to correct wrongs. While "seigi" is the abstract concept, "seigikan" describes the internal drive or personality trait of someone who cannot ignore unfairness.

Care should be taken when using this word in social contexts; asserting one's "justice" too strongly can be perceived as "seigi no oshitsuke" (forcing one's justice on others), which carries a negative connotation of self-righteousness or intolerance.