Translation and Meaning of: 同志 - doushi

Explanation and Etymology - (同志) doushi

同志 (dōshi) is a Japanese word that can have different meanings, depending on the context in which it is used. The etymology of the word is composed of ideograms 同 (dō), which means "equal" or "even", and 志 (shi), which means "objective" or "aspiration". In a political context, it can be translated as "companion" or "comrade", being often used to refer to members of political parties or social movements. In this sense, the word has a connotation of solidarity and unity around a common goal. Already in a more informal context, 同志 can be used as a slang to refer to homosexual people. In this case, the word is an abbreviation of 同性愛者 (dōseiaisha), which means "person who loves same -sex people." This use of the word can be considered offensive by some people, especially because it is associated with a historical period in which homosexuality was pursued in Japan. In addition to these meanings, 同志 can also be used in other contexts, such as literature or in the arts, to refer to people who share the same worldview or the same artistic style. In general, the word is used to refer to people who come together around a common goal, whether political, social, artistic or personal.