道義|どうぎdougi[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounmorality; moral principles
   医師いしが患者かんじゃの秘密ひみつを漏もらすのは道義どうぎにもとる。↗

   It is not ethical for a doctor to reveal confidences.

• Synonym倫理りんりNeutralNorms people should observe; used in philosophy and in 「企業倫理」「職業倫理」. 「道義」 stresses the moral duty one owes as a person, as in 「道義的責任」.
• Synonym道徳どうとくNeutralThe broadest word for morals; also the school subject. 「道義」 stresses the moral duty and responsibility a person should uphold.
• SynonymモラルNeutralLoanword for moral standards or discipline; colloquial, as in 「モラルが低い」.
• Synonym徳義とくぎWrittenWritten word for good faith and virtue, stressing keeping faith and honour; rare in modern use.
• Synonym義ぎWrittenA single character for righteousness and moral duty; written style, as in 「義を重んじる」.
• SynonymモラリティーWrittenLoanword for morality as a quality; rare, academic, with a philosophical slant.
• Related道徳性どうとくせいWrittenMorality as an attribute; an explanatory, academic term.
• Related倫理性りんりせいWrittenEthicality; an explanatory academic term used in assessments of conduct.
• Antonym非道ひどうWrittenWritten antonym: injustice or inhumanity, as in 「非道な行い」.
• Antonym不道徳ふどうとくNeutralAntonym: immorality, the opposite of acting on moral principle, as in 「不道徳な行為」.

Use 「道義」 for the moral duty a person should fulfil, typically in 「道義的責任」 or 「道義上」. For morals in general pick 「道徳」, for ethical norms 「倫理」, and colloquially 「モラル」. 「徳義」「モラリティー」「道徳性」「倫理性」 and 「義」 belong to written or academic prose, while 「不道徳」 and 「非道」 are the opposites.

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

1. 人ひととして行おこなうべき道徳どうとく上じょうの正ただしい道みち。「道義的どうぎてき責任せきにん」