伦理

• Pinyin: lún lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 伦 = 亻(person) + 仑 (order, human relations); 理 = 王 + 里 (principle, reason)

Meaning

Ethics; moral principles governing human conduct and relationships. The systematic study of right and wrong, virtue and duty.

Central to academic philosophy, law, medicine, science, and policy. Key compounds: 医学伦理 (medical ethics), 职业伦理 (professional ethics), 伦理委员会 (ethics committee), 伦理道德 (ethics and morality). 伦理 emphasises relational principles between people, while 道德 is broader and covers personal virtue.

Examples

1. 人工智能技术的飞速发展引发了学界对算法决策伦理边界问题的广泛讨论。 The rapid development of AI has sparked widespread academic debate about the ethical boundaries of algorithmic decision-making.
2. 医院设立了专门的医学伦理委员会，负责审查涉及人体实验的研究项目。 The hospital has set up a dedicated medical ethics committee to review research projects involving human experimentation.
3. 新闻媒体在追求新闻自由的同时，也必须遵守职业伦理，保护当事人的隐私权。 While pursuing press freedom, news media must also follow professional ethics and protect the privacy of those involved.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, medicine, law, science, media

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 克隆技术的应用涉及深层次的伦理问题，必须在严格的法律和道德框架下进行。(The application of cloning technology involves deep ethical issues and must be conducted within a strict legal and moral framework.)
• 企业在追求利润最大化的同时，也应承担起维护商业伦理、保护消费者权益的社会责任。(While pursuing profit maximisation, enterprises should also take on the social responsibility of upholding business ethics and protecting consumers' rights.)

Don't Say

• 将伦理与道德完全等同 — 伦理 refers specifically to the systematic, relational principles governing conduct between people, especially in professional and social roles; 道德 is broader, covering individual virtue, moral character, and general right versus wrong

Origin & History

伦 = 亻(person radical) + 仑 (human relations, order); 理 = 王 + 里 (principle, reason, pattern) — the principles and order governing human relationships

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal