Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Goodwill" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "goodwill", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
厚意
こうい (kōi)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
善意
ぜんいい (zen'i)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "goodwill" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 厚意 and 善意.
In Japanese, 厚意 (こうい (kōi)) is typically associated with "goodwill; kindness; favor; warm consideration (received from others)" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to goodwill, kindness, or favor received from a superior or another person.
On the other hand, 善意 (ぜんいい (zen'i)) maps to "goodwill; kind intention; good faith; benevolence" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to goodwill, kind intentions, or good faith shown toward others.. A literal translation of "goodwill" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
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.
Bilingual Context for "善意"
匿名で多額の寄付を行った人物は、単なる_______に基づく行動であり、売名行為ではないと手紙に記していました。
The person who made a large donation anonymously stated in the letter that it was an action simply based on goodwill, not a publicity stunt.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "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。" (Meaning: "Thanks to the warm kindness of our senior, we were able to rent a wonderful cottage at a bargain price.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "厚意" fits here because it means "goodwill; kindness; favor; warm consideration (received from others)" in the context of: "Thanks to the warm kindness of our senior, we were able to rent a wonderful cottage at a bargain price.". "善意" represents "goodwill; kind intention; good faith; benevolence".