Korean word

도덕

Pronunciation

Romanizationtodeok

Meaning

  • nounmorality

Example

오늘 학교에서 도덕 수업이 있어요.o neul hak kkyo e seo to deok su eo bi i sseo yo

There is a class on morality at school today.

Illustration for 도덕 (morality)

More examples

사회에서 도덕의 기준은 상황에 따라 달라질 수 있어요.sa hoe e seo to deo gui ki ju neun sang hwang e tta ra tal la jil ssu i sseo yo

Moral standards in society can vary depending on the situation.

Core concept

A guiding standard inside people and communities that helps distinguish right from wrong and shape conduct.

Common phrases

  • 도덕 수업to deok su eop

    morality class

  • 도덕 교육to deok kyo yuk

    moral education

  • 도덕 과목to deok kwa mok

    morality subject

Similar words

양심yangsim: A personal feeling that tells someone whether an action is right or wrong.
윤리yulli: A reasoned set of principles about right conduct in personal or social life.
도덕성todeoksseong: The moral quality shown by someone's behavior or decisions.

Definition in Korean

옳고 그름을 판단해 행동을 이끄는 사회적·개인적 기준ol ko keu reu meul pan dan hae haeng dong eul i kkeu neun sa hoe jeok kae in jeok ki jun

Word origin

The Sino-Korean compound 도덕 (dodeok, "morality") combines 도 (do, "way") with 덕 (deok, "virtue"), linking a guiding path with good character.

Usage tips

  • In Korean school contexts, 도덕 (dodeok, "morality") can be the name of a subject, so it appears in everyday education-related contexts as well as serious discussions.

Other meanings

  • ethicsnoun
  • moral sensenoun

Opposites

  • 부도덕pudodeokimmoralitynoun
  • 악덕aktteokvicenoun

Related words

  • 도덕성todeoksseongmoralitynoun
  • 도덕심todeokssimmoral sensenoun

Word lists with this word