恩義

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 恩義 is read as おんぎ and means “debt of gratitude” and “obligation”.
• Basic usage: It denotes remembering help received and feeling obligated to support a mentor.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Key distinction: 師への恩義
  • It includes an obligation to repay kindness, not gratitude alone. The benefactor appears in 師への恩義.