命題

• Reading: めいだい
• Romaji: meidai
• Kanji breakdown: 命 (mei) — order, command, life; 題 (dai) — topic, theme
• Pronunciation: /meː.da.i/

Meaning

Proposition; thesis; a statement or problem posed for consideration or proof.

A noun used in logic, philosophy, and mathematics to denote a declarative statement that can be evaluated as true or false. Also used more broadly in intellectual and academic discussion to mean a fundamental question or thesis. Common collocations include 命題を立てる (to pose a proposition) and 命題を証明する (to prove a proposition).

Examples

1. 数学の授業でこの命題を証明することになった。 In math class, we were assigned to prove this proposition.
2. 環境と経済の両立は現代社会の大きな命題だ。 Balancing the environment and the economy is a major challenge facing modern society.
3. その命題が正しいかどうかを検証する必要がある。 It is necessary to verify whether that proposition is correct.

Usage Guide

Context: academia, philosophy, mathematics, logic

Tone: intellectual

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 命 (mei, order/command/life) + 題 (dai, topic/theme). Originally meant 'a topic handed down as an assignment,' evolving into the logical and philosophical sense of a proposition that demands examination.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated