‘义愤’ (yì fèn) is a compound noun meaning ‘righteous indignation’—a strong, morally grounded anger directed at injustice, cruelty, or wrongdoing. The first character 义 (yì) means ‘righteousness,’ ‘justice,’ or ‘moral principle,’ while 愤 (fèn) means ‘indignation,’ ‘anger,’ or ‘resentment.’ Together, they convey anger that arises not from personal grievance but from a sense of ethical duty and empathy for others.

This word is formal and literary, commonly found in written Chinese—such as news reports, editorials, historical narratives, or speeches—and less frequent in casual spoken conversation. It often describes collective emotional responses to social injustice, corruption, or violations of human dignity. Because it carries moral weight, using ‘义愤’ implies the speaker endorses the cause behind the anger, distinguishing it from mere anger (生气) or outrage (愤怒) without moral justification.