What is the difference between "行為" and "厚意"?

"行為" means "act, deed, conduct" (N3), whereas "厚意" represents "goodwill; kindness; favor; warm consideration (received from others)" (N3).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "こうい (kōi)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

こうい (kōi)

N3 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

こうい (kōi)

N3 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "こうい (kōi)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

行為 (Level: N3): Translates to "act, deed, conduct" and is used when Refers to a specific action or deed, often with a moral, legal, or formal implication. More formal than just 「すること」..
厚意 (Level: N3): Maps to "goodwill; kindness; favor; warm consideration (received from others)" and carries the nuance of Refers to goodwill, kindness, or favor received from a superior or another person.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "行為"

その行為は社会的に許されない。

That act is not socially acceptable.

Bilingual Context for "厚意"

先輩の温かいご_______により、私たちは格安で素晴らしいコテージを借りることができました。

Thanks to the warm kindness of our senior, we were able to rent a wonderful cottage at a bargain price.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "その＿＿＿は社会的に許されない。" (Meaning: "That act is not socially acceptable.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "行為" is used for "act, deed, conduct" in the context: "That act is not socially acceptable.".