Word
行い
Meaning in Englishconduct, behavior, action
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
行い means conduct or behavior; it refers to the way a person acts or carries out actions, especially in terms of moral or social conduct.
Main meanings
- conduct or behavior
- deeds or actions, especially morally oriented ones
- manner of acting in a given situation
How to use it
Used primarily as a noun in formal or written contexts. Common in phrases such as 良い行い and 悪い行い; in everyday speech it can feel literary, with synonyms like ふるまい or 行動 used in casual contexts.
Variants and close terms
- conduct, behavior — okonai
- actions, deeds — okonai
- demeanor — furumai
- attitude — taido
Composition
- 行: to go, to perform; い: nominalizing suffix; together they form a noun indicating an act or conduct
Etymology
From 行う (okonau) via nominalization; the noun 行い expresses the act of performing or carrying out, with 行 conveying action and い marking the noun form.
Word class
noun (名詞)
Related words by kanji and components
N1
走行
soukou
running a wheeled vehicle (e.g., car, traveling)
N1
修行
shugyou
pursuit of knowledge, training, ascetic practice
N2
～行
～gyou
line, row
N2
行っていらっしゃい
itteirasshai
have a nice day, see you
N2
行ってらっしゃい
itterasshai
have a nice day, see you
N2
売行き
ureyuki
sales
N2
売れ行き
ureyuki
sales, demand
N2
行事
gyouji
event, function
N2
行列
gyouretsu
line, procession; matrix (math)