Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Goodwill" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "goodwill", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
好意
こうい (kōi)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
厚意
こうい (kōi)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "goodwill" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 好意 and 厚意.
In Japanese, 好意 (こうい (kōi)) is typically associated with "goodwill; favor; affection; kindness" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to having goodwill, favor, affection, or kind feelings toward someone. Contrast with 悪意.
On the other hand, 厚意 (こうい (kōi)) maps to "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. A literal translation of "goodwill" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "好意"
彼女の温かい_______に感謝し、丁寧にお礼の手紙を書きました。
Grateful for her warm kindness, I wrote a polite thank-you letter.
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.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "彼女の温かい_______に感謝し、丁寧にお礼の手紙を書きました。" (Meaning: "Grateful for her warm kindness, I wrote a polite thank-you letter.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "好意" fits here because it means "goodwill; favor; affection; kindness" in the context of: "Grateful for her warm kindness, I wrote a polite thank-you letter.". "厚意" represents "goodwill; kindness; favor; warm consideration (received from others)".