Japanese word

道理

Pronunciation

Romajidōri

Meaning

  • nounsense

Example

彼の意見には道理があります。kare no i ken ni wa dō ri ga a ri ma su

His opinion makes sense.

Illustration for 道理 (sense)

More examples

人の努力を笑うのは、道理に反します。hito no do ryoku o wara u no wa dō ri ni han shi ma su

Mocking someone's efforts goes against reason.

Core concept

Expresses an idea as fitting a clear order of reasons and therefore being understandable or justified.

Common phrases

  • 道理があるdō ri ga a ru

    make sense

  • 道理にかなうdō ri ni ka na u

    be reasonable

  • 道理を通すdō ri o tō su

    stand on principle

Similar words

理屈rikutsu: An explanation based on connected reasons.
筋道sujimichi: A logical order in which reasons connect and lead to a conclusion.
条理jōri: A coherent and orderly connection among reasons, ideas, or events.

Definition in Japanese

物事の筋道が通っていること。また、その正当な理由や理屈。mono goto no suji michi ga kayo tte i ru ko to ma ta so no sei tō na ri yū ya ri kutsu

Word origin

It combines 道 (dō, "way") and 理 (ri, "reason" or "principle"), with the compound referring to a reason that follows an orderly path.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Japanese, 道理で (dōri de) is a set phrase meaning "no wonder," used when a newly learned fact makes an earlier result seem expected.

Other meanings

  • reasonnoun
  • logicnoun

Opposites

  • 不合理fugōriillogicalna-adjective

Word lists with this word