noun
Refers to the path of righteousness or moral duty, often in a societal or philosophical sense. Common in compounds like 道義心 (sense of morality) and 道義的 (moral, ethical).
政治家には高い道義が求められる。
Politicians are expected to have high moral principles.
彼の行動は道義に反している。
His actions go against morality.
Compound of 道 (path, way) and 義 (righteousness, justice). The term has been used in Japanese since at least the Meiji period to translate Western concepts of morality and moral philosophy.