How to say "moral" in Japanese

• 寓意ぐういCommon
  nounCovers the moral of a story as its hidden, allegorical meaning — the symbolism beneath the surface — rather than the lesson drawn from it. Use it when discussing what a fable is really saying.
  同おなじように現代げんだい美術びじゅつの寓意ぐうい的てき手順てじゅんに関かんして捧ささげられたエッセイにおいて、バックローは６人にんの女性じょせい芸術家げいじゅつかについて議論ぎろんしている。↗

  In an essay similarly devoted to allegorical procedures in contemporary art, Buchloh discusses 6 women artists.
• 道徳的どうとくてきCommon
  na-adjectiveCovers 'moral' in the ethical sense — concerned with right and wrong. Use it for moral questions, judgments, standards, and behavior: whether an action, motive, or person is right or wrong.
  彼かれは道徳的どうとくてきに堕落だらくした。↗

  He lapsed morally.
• 教訓きょうくんJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe moral of a story as a lesson or precept — what the story teaches. It also covers lessons drawn from experience; 寓意, by contrast, is the hidden allegorical meaning of the work.
  実例じつれいは教訓きょうくんにまさる。↗

  Example is better than precept.
• 無形むけいCommon
  no-adjectiveMeans formless or intangible — immaterial rather than physical. Seldom the word you want for 'moral': the connection is only the non-material sense of 'moral', as in 'moral support', not the ethical one.

Choose 道徳的 for the ethical sense; for the moral of a story, 教訓 is the lesson drawn from it while 寓意 is its hidden allegorical meaning; 無形 is really 'intangible' and only marginally 'moral'.

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

• 寓意ぐういhidden meaning
• 道徳的どうとくてきethical
• 教訓きょうくんlesson
• 無形むけいformless
• 道義的どうぎてきmoral
• 道徳上どうとくじょうmoral (issue, responsibility, etc.)