忠実な
chūjitsu na
The Japanese word for loyal is 忠実な (chūjitsu na). Wiktionary also lists 忠誠な (chūsei na).
Meaning: firm in allegiance to a person or institution (adj)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 忠実な | chūjitsu na |
| 忠誠な | chūsei na |
The term 忠実な conveys the sense of faithfulness, reliability and trustworthiness. It is the standard choice when describing a loyal pet or a person who is faithful to their principles. It is used for loyalty to a person, a cause or for being faithful/accurate to an original (like a reproduction or a dog).
Which one should you use?
In contrast, 忠誠な specifically refers to political or formal allegiance and is much heavier, often implying a duty to a lord, country or institution.
How do you pronounce it?
chūjitsu na
When do people say it?
In Japanese, related terms like 忠誠心 means loyal spirit or dedication.
Did you know?
- The kanji character for loyalty, 忠, is composed of the radical for 'heart' 心 and the character for 'middle' or 'center' 中. This suggests that true loyalty is a heart that remains centered and unwavering.
- The term 忠誠心 (chūseishin) is deeply tied to the historical code of the samurai. It implies a devotion so intense that it involves life-and-death duty.
- Applying 忠誠 to a sports team or a celebrity can sound unintentionally dramatic or even ironic to native speakers.
Examples in context
- 犬は人間の最も忠実な友達です。Dogs are humanity's most loyal companions.This sentence illustrates the use of 忠実な when describing a dog as a companion.Tatoeba #13195524 by boracasli2, translation #13221466 by Lumi
- 彼女はいつも忠実で信頼できる友人です。She is a loyal and trustworthy friend.
- 彼はリーダーに忠実な部下です。Kare wa rīdā ni chūjitsu na buka desu.He is a loyal subordinate to the leader.
- 彼女は自分の信念に忠実な人だ。Kanojo wa jibun no shinnen ni chūjitsu na hito da.She is a person who is loyal to her own beliefs.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are discussing their pet dog.
- 蓮 Renこの犬は本当に忠実な性格だね。Kono inu wa hontou ni chuujitsu na seikaku da ne.This dog has a really loyal personality, doesn't it?
- 美咲 Misakiええ、いつもそばにいてくれるわ。Ee, itsumo soba ni ite kureru wa.Yes, he is always by my side.
- 蓮 Ren信頼できる最高の相棒だと思うよ。Shinrai dekiru saikou no aibou da to omou yo.I think he's the best, most reliable partner.
- 美咲 Misaki本当にそうね。大切に育てましょう。Hontou ni sou ne. Taisetsu ni sodatemashou.You're right. Let's take good care of him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “loyal” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
