loyalty

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 忠 has 8 strokes and the on-reading ちゅう. 忠実 (ちゅうじつ) means faithful or loyal.
• Basic usage: 忠実 describes loyalty to a person or faithfulness to an original; 忠告 (ちゅうこく) means advice or a warning intended to help someone.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Faithfulness and advice
  • 設計図に忠実な模型 means a model faithful to the plans. 主人に忠実に従う describes a dog loyally following its master.
  • 医師の忠告に従って means following a doctor's advice. 危険だから戻れという友人の忠告 refers to a friend's warning to turn back because it is dangerous.