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
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 好意 and 善意.
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, 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 "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 "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: "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.". "善意" represents "goodwill; kind intention; good faith; benevolence".