noun
chivalrous spirit; sense of honor and duty to help the weak
Refers to a noble, self-sacrificing mindset rooted in traditional ideals of chivalry and loyalty. Often used in literary or historical contexts.
彼の行動には義侠心があふれていた。
His actions were filled with a chivalrous spirit.
時代劇の主人公は義侠心に厚い人物として
The hero of period dramas is often portrayed as a person of strong chivalrous spirit.
任侠 refers more broadly to the chivalrous code and lifestyle of yakuza or outlaws, while 義侠心 emphasizes the inner spirit of righteousness and self-sacrifice.
武士道 is the samurai code of honor, a formalized ethical system; 義侠心 is a more personal, emotional sense of chivalry not limited to the samurai class.
Compound of 義 (righteousness), 侠 (chivalry), and 心 (heart/spirit). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word likely emerged in the late Edo or Meiji period to express a Western-influenced concept of chivalry combined with traditional Japanese ideals.