道理 (どうり, douri) Japanese meaning: reason

道理 (どうり, douri) Japanese meaning: reason | Kotomora

Kanji

道road-way, street, district
理logic, arrangement, reason

Related words· 8

理り屈くつN1
理屈 emphasizes theoretical or argumentative reasoning, sometimes with a negative nuance of sophistry, while 道理 refers to natural, common-sense rightness.
理り由ゆうN4
理由 is the concrete cause or reason behind a specific event, whereas 道理 is the abstract principle of reason or moral rightness.
筋すじ道みちN1
筋道 highlights the logical sequence or process of reasoning, while 道理 is the underlying principle that reasoning should conform to.
正せい論ろん
正論 is a specific sound argument or valid point made in discussion, while 道理 is the broader concept of what is reasonable or right.

Show 4 more

条じょう理り
道理 is the common word for basic reason or moral principle, while 条理 is a more formal term emphasizing systematic logical order.
天てん理り
道理 is the everyday word for reason or logical principle, while 天理 refers specifically to a cosmic or moral order and appears mainly in philosophical or religious writing.
理り
道理 emphasizes moral or natural rightness (what is proper), while 理 is the broader term for rational coherence or underlying logic.
筋すじN2
道理 is a formal word for logical reasoning or what is right, while 筋 in this sense usually appears in set phrases like 筋が通る about whether something makes sense.

Opposites

無む理りN5
無理 describes what is unreasonable or forced, directly opposing 道理's sense of what is reasonable and right.

Don't confuse with

義ぎ理りN1
義理 refers to social duty or obligation owed to others, while 道理 refers to abstract logical or moral rightness, despite the similar kanji.
道どう義ぎ
道理 means reason or logical principle, while 道義 specifically concerns moral duty and righteousness, not logical correctness.

Word family

不ふ道どう理り
unreasonableness; absurdity; irrationality
どうりで
no wonder; indeed; that explains it
物ものの道どう理り
the principle of the thing; the way things work; the natural order of things
道どう理り至し極ごく
perfectly reasonable; standing to reason

Written forms

道どう理りUsage88%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency word.
どうりUsage12%

Etymology

Composed of 道 (way, principle) and 理 (reason, logic). The combination has been used since classical Chinese to mean 'the way things should be' or 'natural reason'.

道どう理り

Meanings

Usage patterns

Expressions