Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Mercy" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "mercy", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
慈悲
じひ (jihi)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
容赦
ようしゃ (yōsha)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "mercy" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 慈悲 and 容赦.
In Japanese, 慈悲 (じひ (jihi)) is typically associated with "mercy; compassion; charity; benevolence" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to deep mercy, compassion, charity, or benevolence.
On the other hand, 容赦 (ようしゃ (yōsha)) maps to "mercy; forgiveness; leniency; pardon; no mercy/relentless" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Refers to mercy, forgiveness, leniency, or pardoning someone's mistake. A literal translation of "mercy" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "慈悲"
王は、反乱を起こした兵士たちに対して_______深い心を示し、全員を釈放しました。
The king showed a merciful heart toward the soldiers who rebelled and released everyone.
Bilingual Context for "容赦"
真夏の日差しが_______なく照りつける中、選手たちは過酷な長距離ロードレースを走り抜きました。
While the midsummer sunlight beat down relentlessly, the players ran through the harsh long-distance road race.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "王は、反乱を起こした兵士たちに対して_______深い心を示し、全員を釈放しました。" (Meaning: "The king showed a merciful heart toward the soldiers who rebelled and released everyone.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "慈悲" fits here because it means "mercy; compassion; charity; benevolence" in the context of: "The king showed a merciful heart toward the soldiers who rebelled and released everyone.". "容赦" represents "mercy; forgiveness; leniency; pardon; no mercy/relentless".