道 徳(どうとく)

どうとく

noun

morals, ethics

formalacademic

1. morals, ethics, morality

The principles of right and wrong behavior; standards of conduct and ethical values that guide human behavior in society.

学校(がっこう)で道徳(どうとく)の授業(じゅぎょう)がある。

There are ethics classes at school.

道徳(どうとく)の授業(じゅぎょう) = moral education class

社会(しゃかい)の道徳(どうとく)が変(か)わってきた。

Society's morals have been changing.

道徳的(どうとくてき)に正(ただ)しいかどうか考(かんが)える。

Think about whether it's morally right.

Usage: 道徳(どうとく) refers to moral principles and ethical standards. In Japanese schools, 道徳(どうとく) is a required subject teaching moral values.

Compounds

道徳(どうとく)教育(きょういく) (moral education)
道徳的(どうとくてき) (moral, ethical - na-adjective)
道徳心(どうとくしん) (moral sense, conscience)
道徳観(どうとくかん) (moral values, sense of morality)
社会(しゃかい)道徳(どうとく) (social morals)

Related words

倫理(りんり) (ethics - more academic/philosophical)
モラル (morals - loanword)
良心(りょうしん) (conscience)
正義(せいぎ) (justice, righteousness)

Cultural note: In Japanese public schools, 道徳(どうとく) is a required subject that teaches values like respect, responsibility, and cooperation. It became a formal subject with evaluation in 2018.

Related Words

Related: 倫理(りんり) (ethics (academic))

Related: モラル (morals)

Related: 良心(りょうしん) (conscience)

Related: 正義(せいぎ) (justice, righteousness)

Compare: 倫理観(りんりかん) ((one's) sense of ethics)

Related: 倫理学(りんりがく) (ethics)

Compare: 公序良俗(こうじょりょうぞく) (public order and morals)

general

Added 2026.1.12 18:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

03000/03478_doutoku