How to say "virtue" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 長所ちょうしょnounCovers the sense of 'virtue' as a strong point or advantage of a person or thing. Use it when listing someone's good qualities, as the natural opposite of shortcomings.
- 効き目ききめnounHere 'virtue' means efficacy — the effect something has, especially the healing virtue of a medicine or remedy. It is not about moral virtue, so it is rarely the word you want for that sense.
- 美徳びとくnounThe core word for 'virtue' as a moral quality: a good trait of character such as honesty, patience, or thrift. Use this when praising someone's virtue or saying a quality is a virtue.
- 美点びてんnounCovers 'virtue' as a good point, charm, or merit of a person or thing, with a slightly elegant flavor. Like 長所, it evaluates attractiveness rather than describing moral character.
- 仁義じんぎnounMeans humanity and justice, especially virtue in the Confucian sense of benevolence and righteousness. For ordinary talk of moral virtue this is seldom the word you want; it belongs to ethical and traditional contexts.盗人にも仁義。↗There is honor even among thieves.
For 'virtue' as a moral quality choose 美徳; for a person's good points or merits choose 長所 or 美点; for the effectiveness of a medicine or remedy choose 「効き目」; 仁義 covers Confucian virtue.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 長所ちょうしょstrong point
- 効き目ききめeffect
- 美徳びとくvirtue
- 美点びてんvirtue
- 仁義じんぎhumanity and justice (esp. in Confucianism)
- 良さよさmerit
- 善ぜんgood
- 効能こうのうeffect
- 徳とくvirtue
- 明徳めいとくvirtue
- バーチューvirtue
- 美質びしつvirtue
- 一徳いっとくvirtue
- 善心ぜんしんvirtue
- 貞操ていそうchastity
- ありがたみvalue
- 貞淑ていしゅくchastity
- 篤行とっこうvirtuous conduct
- ありがたさvalue
- 貞節ていせつchastity
- 徳操とくそうstrong, immovable sense of morality
- 徳目とくもく(types of) virtue
See also
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