How to say "morals" in Japanese

• 道徳どうとくJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe default word for morals or morality as such: principles of right and wrong in personal conduct and in society. When 'morals' is meant in a general, everyday sense, this is the usual choice.
  この学校がっこうは生徒せいと達たちに高度こうどな道徳どうとく水準すいじゅんを課かする。↗

  This school sets high moral standards for pupils.
• モラルCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword, with a Western flavour. Common in everyday speech and the media for moral sense or standards, as in talk of people or society keeping, losing, or lacking 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?
• 倫理りんりCommon
  nounFirst and foremost 'ethics': right and wrong treated as principles or codes, as in professional, business, or philosophical discussion. Choose it when 'morals' carries that principled, reasoned flavour rather than everyday personal conduct.
  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.
• 修身しゅうしんCommon
  nounReally 'moral training' or self-cultivation, and best known as the name of the old school subject that taught it. As a rendering of 'morals' it is seldom the word you want.
• 徳義とくぎCommon
  nounA stiff, bookish word that also means 'sincerity'. For 'morals' it is seldom the word you want: it really belongs to formal, written language.

Use 道徳 for morality in general, 「モラル」 for the loanword feel of moral standards, and 倫理 when 'ethics' is meant; 修身 and 徳義 are seldom the natural choice for 'morals'.

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

• 道徳どうとくmorals
• モラルmorals
• 倫理りんりethics
• 修身しゅうしんmorals
• 徳義とくぎmorals
• 風教ふうきょうmorals