Word
原則
Meaning in Englishprinciple, general rule
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Word context
What it means
What does 原則 mean? It denotes a fundamental rule or guiding principle that governs actions, policies, or systems, serving as the baseline standard or default approach.
Main meanings
- core meaning: a fundamental rule or guiding principle that underpins decisions and behavior in most contexts.
- general rule usage: used in phrases to indicate something true in principle rather than in every case (as a general rule).
- policy and ethics nuance: often appears in legal, organizational, and philosophical language to describe normative standards.
How to use it
Used as a noun in formal and written Japanese. Commonly paired with として to express a general rule (原則として) or with 原則的 to describe something that adheres to the principle. In academic, legal, and policy contexts it marks normative standards rather than exceptions.
Variants and close terms
- 原理 genri – principle
- 規則 kisoku – rule
- 基準 kijun – standard
Composition
- 原: base, origin; on'yomi げん gen; kun'yomi はら
- 則: rule, standard; on'yomi そく soku; kun'yomi n/a
- 原則: combined meaning a base rule or fundamental principle
Origin
Introduced through the Sino-Japanese writing system; used in classical and modern Japanese to denote a fundamental rule guiding behavior, policy, or reasoning.
Word class
Noun (名詞)
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