How to say "doctrine" in Japanese

• 主義しゅぎJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA doctrine in the sense of a principle or '-ism' that a person or group adheres to, such as a political or philosophical creed. It emphasizes a guiding belief rather than religious content.
  それは私の主義しゅぎに反はんする。↗

  That runs against my principles.
• 説せつJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)A doctrine as a theory or set of claims advanced and argued by someone, close to English 'theory'. It suits an academic or scholarly position rather than a religious or official one.
  あなたがなんと言いおうと、私はやはりその説せつが正ただしいと思おもう。↗

  For all you say, I still believe in the truth of the theory.
• ドクトリンCommon
  nounA loanword for doctrine, typically a formally stated doctrine of a government, party, or military policy. Use it when the English word itself would appear, as in named political doctrines.
• 教義きょうぎCommon
  nounReligious doctrine: the official beliefs, creed, or dogma of a religion. This is the usual choice when 'doctrine' refers to the teachings of a faith.
  あの宗教しゅうきょう団体だんたいはかなりいかがわしい教義きょうぎにとりつかれている。↗

  That religious cult has got some pretty off the wall ideas.
• 教えおしえJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe teachings or precepts handed down by a teacher, religion, or master. It stresses what is taught and passed on, rather than doctrine as a formal system of belief.
  聖書せいしょには、賢かしこい教おしえがたくさん見付みつかります。↗

  Much wisdom is to be found in the Bible.

Choose 主義 for a belief system or '-ism', 教義 for religious doctrine, 説 for a theory or body of teachings, 「教え」 for received teachings, and 「ドクトリン」 for political or military doctrine.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 主義しゅぎdoctrine
• 説せつtheory
• ドクトリンdoctrine
• 教義きょうぎcreed
• 教えおしえteaching
• 理念りねん(Platonic) ideal (of how things ought to be, e.g. human rights)
• 教理きょうりdoctrine
• 教旨きょうしdoctrine
• 宗風しゅうふうcustoms of a sect
• 義ぎteachings
• 論ろんtheory (e.g. of evolution)