Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
相対主義 (そうたいしゅぎ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
relativism
A philosophical concept that truth, knowledge, or morality is relative to a particular framework, such as culture or individual perspective. Often used in academic contexts.
文ぶん
化か
相そう
対たい
主しゅ
義ぎ
は
、
異こと
なる
文ぶん
化か
の
価か
値ち
観かん
を
理り
解かい
する
上うえ
で
重じゅう
要よう
だ
。
Cultural relativism is important for understanding the values of different cultures.
Kanji 相 inter-, mutual, together 対 vis-a-vis, opposite, even 義 righteousness, justice, morality Similar words 絶ぜっ 対たい 主しゅ 義ぎ Absolutism, the opposite of relativism, holding that certain truths or values are universal and unchanging.
相そう 対たい 的てき An adjective meaning 'relative'; 相対主義 is the doctrine or -ism, while 相対的 describes something as being relative.
Etymology Compound of 相対 (sōtai, 'relative') and 主義 (shugi, '-ism'). The term is a calque from Western philosophy, likely coined in the Meiji period as part of the modernization of Japanese academic vocabulary.
