义气

義氣

yìqì

noun #21,343

Meanings

1 loyalty between friends
2 code of brotherhood
3 sense of honor / camaraderie

Characters

righteousness / loyalty / justice

spirit / air / breath

Examples

他很讲义气，从不出卖朋友。

Tā hěn jiǎng yìqì, cóng bù chūmài péngyou.

He has a strong sense of loyalty and never betrays his friends.

他们之间有一种深厚的义气。

Tāmen zhījiān yǒu yī zhǒng shēnhòu de yìqì.

There is a deep sense of brotherhood between them.

Tips

culture

义气 is a core concept in Chinese friendship and brotherhood culture, especially prominent in wuxia (martial arts) stories and gangster films. To be 讲义气 (to uphold 义气) means you never abandon or betray your friends, even at personal cost.

Stroke Order

义 yì

气 qì