道徳(どうとく)

どうとく
noun
morals, ethics
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.
道徳の授業 = 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.

COMMON 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))
general
Added 2026.1.12 18:54 · Revised 2026.3.1 9:20
03000/03478_doutoku