How to say "self-discipline" in Japanese

• 自律じりつCommon
  nounCovers self-discipline as self-control and autonomy: regulating your own behavior and acting by your own standards rather than under outside pressure. The word to reach for when 'self-discipline' means keeping yourself in check.
• 修養しゅうようCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbTreats self-discipline as self-cultivation: training and refining your mind and character through sustained effort. Choose it when the English stresses personal development or mental discipline rather than restraint.
• 自粛じしゅくCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers self-discipline only in the sense of self-restraint: voluntarily holding back from an action or activity. For discipline as self-control or training it is not the natural choice; the idea here is really 'self-restraint'.
  彼かれは自粛じしゅくの波なみに乗のらなかった。↗

  He refused to exercise self-restraint.

Use 自律 for self-discipline as self-control or autonomy, 修養 when it means cultivating yourself through training, and 自粛 only for holding back or refraining from something.

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

• 自律じりつautonomy
• 修養しゅうようself-improvement
• 自粛じしゅくself-restraint
• 自己鍛錬じこたんれんself-discipline