Translation guide
Expressing loyalty or commitment to a person, group, country, or cause. Japanese often uses specific nouns and set phrases rather than a single direct equivalent.
Expressing patriotic loyalty or fealty to a nation, monarch, or sovereign.
The most direct equivalent for loyalty or allegiance, often used in formal contexts regarding a country or ruler.
彼は国に忠誠を誓った。
He swore allegiance to his country.
Loyalty and devotion, often with a historical or samurai-era nuance of personal fealty to a lord.
武士は主君に忠義を尽くした。
The samurai served his lord with allegiance.
Expressing commitment to a team, company, political party, or movement.
A sense of loyalty or allegiance, often used for organizations or abstract causes.
彼の会社への忠誠心は厚い。
His allegiance to the company is strong.
Sense of belonging or affiliation, often used in social psychology or organizational contexts.
Pattern: 'allegiance to X'. Attach to a noun indicating the target of loyalty.
党への忠誠が求められる。
Allegiance to the party is required.
The act of formally declaring loyalty, such as an oath or pledge.
To swear allegiance. The standard verb phrase.
新入社員は会社に忠誠を誓った。
The new employees swore allegiance to the company.
An oath of allegiance, as a noun phrase.
彼は国王に忠誠の誓いを立てた。
He made an oath of allegiance to the king.
Changing loyalty from one side to another.
To switch sides, betray one's allegiance. Common in war, politics, or business contexts.
彼は敵側に寝返った。
He switched his allegiance to the enemy.
To change sides or switch allegiance, often used for political parties or factions.
議員が野党に鞍替えした。
The lawmaker switched allegiance to the opposition party.
Supporting a particular team or figure.
To be a fan of; expresses allegiance in a casual, modern way. Replace 〜 with team/person name.
私はずっと巨人ファンです。
My allegiance has always been to the Giants.
To be supporting/rooting for; implies ongoing allegiance.
どのチームを応援していますか？
Where does your allegiance lie? (Which team do you support?)
The English word 'allegiance' is often translated as 忠誠, but in many casual contexts, Japanese speakers express the idea through phrases like 〜の味方 (supporter of) or simply stating their affiliation. Using 忠誠 in everyday conversation about sports or hobbies can sound overly dramatic.
忠誠 is the modern, general term for loyalty/allegiance. 忠義 carries a historical, feudal connotation and is rarely used outside of period dramas or literary contexts.
従業員の帰属意識を高めることが重要だ。
It's important to increase employees' sense of allegiance.