How to say "ethics" in Japanese

• 倫理りんりCommon
  nounThe default word for ethics as a system of principles of right and wrong, in everyday moral talk as well as professional and academic discussion; when in doubt, reach for this one.
  たくさんの人々ひとびとが倫理りんりの面めんから遺伝子いでんし治療ちりょうに反対はんたいした。↗

  A great many people were opposed to gene therapy in terms of ethics.
• モラルCommon
  nounA katakana loanword that stresses morals as personal standards of behavior rather than ethics as a field of study; typical contexts are complaints about slipping morals or people who lack them.
  皆みなさんは、モラルを大切たいせつにしていますか。↗

  Do you all place great importance on morals?
• 倫理学りんりがくCommon
  nounEthics as an academic subject: the branch of philosophy that studies right and wrong, i.e. moral philosophy. Choose this when 'ethics' names a discipline, a course, or scholarly discussion rather than everyday moral conduct.
  倫理学りんりがくというのは、行動こうどうの規範きはんを意味いみする。↗

  Ethics means the rules of conduct.
• 修身しゅうしんCommon
  nounReally denotes moral training — the cultivation of one's own character — rather than ethics as a principle or field; unless you mean instruction in morals specifically, this is seldom the word you want for 'ethics'.

Use 倫理 for ethics as principles of right and wrong in general or professional contexts, 「モラル」 for personal morals, 倫理学 for ethics as an academic discipline, and avoid 修身, which really means moral training.

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

• 倫理りんりethics
• モラルmorals
• 倫理学りんりがくethics
• 修身しゅうしんmorals
• 道学どうがくethics
• エシックスethics
• 倫理観りんりかんethics