How to say "ideology" in Japanese

• 思想しそうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers ideology in the broad sense: a system of thought or set of beliefs, political or social. A natural choice when you mean someone's thinking or outlook rather than the technical term.
  我々われわれは言葉ことばによって思想しそうを表現ひょうげんする。↗

  We express thought with language.
• イデオロギーCommon
  nounThe direct loanword for ideology, typically for political or social ideologies discussed as systems of belief. A natural choice when 'ideology' itself would fit the English sentence unchanged.
  これが私の固執こしつしているイデオロギーだ。↗

  This is the ideology to which my speech is written.
• 理念りねんCommon
  nounReally means an ideal of how things ought to be, such as human rights, or a foundational principle, rather than ideology. Seldom the word you want for 'ideology' in the political sense.
  これらの理念りねんは憲法けんぽうに具体化ぐたいかされている。↗

  These ideas are embodied in the constitution.

Use 思想 for ideology as a body of thought or beliefs, 「イデオロギー」 for the loanword in political or academic discussion, and 理念 only for ideals or foundational principles, not ideology proper.

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

• 思想しそうthought
• イデオロギーideology
• 理念りねん(Platonic) ideal (of how things ought to be, e.g. human rights)
• 観念形態かんねんけいたいideology