理性(りせい)

りせい
noun
reason; rationality
cognition
1. reason; rationality; rational judgment
The human faculty of logical thinking and rational judgment, as opposed to emotion or instinct. Often used in contexts where someone maintains or loses their composure.
理性(りせい)を保(たも)つのが難(むずか)しかった。
It was hard to keep my composure.
怒(いか)りで理性(りせい)を失(うしな)いそうになった。
I almost lost my reason out of anger.
どんな状況(じょうきょう)でも理性(りせい)的(てき)に判断(はんだん)することが大切(たいせつ)だ。
It's important to make rational judgments in any situation.

Usage

Most commonly appears in phrases about maintaining or losing rational control. The contrast between 理性(りせい) (reason) and 感情(かんじょう) (emotion) is a frequent pairing in Japanese.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 知性(ちせい): intellect — refers to intellectual capacity or intelligence in general
  • 感性(かんせい): sensibility — the ability to perceive and respond to aesthetic or emotional stimuli, contrasts with 理性(りせい)

Related Words

Antonym: 感情(かんじょう) (emotion)
Compare: 知性(ちせい) (intellect)
Compare: 感性(かんせい) (sensibility)
general
Added 2026.3.19 18:58 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
17500/17951_risei