徳義|とくぎtokugi[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounmorals; morality; sincerity

• Synonym道徳どうとくNeutralThe most general term, also the school subject; 「徳義」 is dated and mostly appears in 「徳義心」 and 「徳義上」.
• SynonymモラルNeutralLoanword for public and professional ethics, as in 「モラルが低い」; 「徳義」 sounds old-fashioned.
• Synonym道義どうぎWrittenThe right path people should follow, as in 「道義的責任」; close to 「徳義」 but the usual choice today.
• Synonym義ぎWrittenA Confucian virtue of righteousness and repaying others as is proper, also meaning a word's sense; 「徳義」 is the umbrella term for moral duties.
• SynonymモラリティーWrittenLoanword for morality, found mainly in academic writing; in everyday speech use 「モラル」 or 「道徳」.
• Related徳行とっこうWrittenRefers to concrete acts that accord with morality; 「徳義」 denotes the moral obligations one should observe.
• Related倫理りんりWrittenCovers principles governing how people treat each other and names a field of study, as in 「生命倫理」; 「徳義」 leans toward personal conduct.
• Related仁じんWrittenA specific Confucian virtue of benevolence and consideration for others; only in the same class as 「徳義」, which covers moral duties generally.
• Related善ぜんNeutralThe broadest term for what is good and right, opposed to 「悪」; 「徳義」 is limited to moral obligations.
• Related美徳びとくNeutralA praiseworthy virtue, as in 「謙虚は美徳」; 「徳義」 is an obligation to keep rather than a quality to praise.
• Related功徳くどくWrittenBuddhist term for good deeds that bring blessings; only a category-mate of 「徳義」, which is a moral duty with no religious coloring.
• Related人倫じんりんWrittenCovers the order of human relations and the way one should live, as in 「人倫にもとる」; 「徳義」 stresses keeping faith and duty.
• Related善徳ぜんとくWrittenA rare word for good character and virtue; 「徳義」 refers to moral obligations one should keep.
• Related篤行とっこうWrittenVery rare, for sincere and kindly conduct; 「徳義」 is the moral obligation itself.
• Related明徳めいとくWrittenConfucian term for bright virtue, also an era name; rarely used today — 「徳義」 is dated too but more common.
• Related道心どうしんWrittenMeans conscience, and in Buddhism the aspiration to pursue the Way; 「徳義」 is the moral duty one should observe.
• Related聖徳せいとくFormalFormal word for the supreme virtue of an emperor or the Buddha, used reverently; not for ordinary people's morals, unlike 「徳義」.
• Related徳とくNeutralCovers virtue and character, and also means profit or benefit; 「徳義」 is strictly a moral obligation.
• Related道徳性どうとくせいWrittenThe quality of being moral, seen mostly in educational and philosophical writing; 「徳義」 is the obligation itself.
• Related倫理性りんりせいWrittenThe ethical quality of something, used in evaluating conduct or research; 「徳義」 is the older word.

For morals in general use 「道徳」 or 「モラル」; for moral responsibility use 「道義」, and to praise someone's character use 「美徳」. 「徳義」 is dated and mostly survives in 「徳義心」; the rest are narrower or rarer terms for virtue, goodness, or specific Confucian and Buddhist ideas.

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

1. 道徳どうとくとして守まもるべき義務ぎむ。