良心

• Reading: りょうしん
• Romaji: ryoushin
• Kanji breakdown: 良 (ryou) — good, virtuous, excellent; 心 (shin) — heart, mind, spirit
• Pronunciation: /ɾjoː.ɕiɴ/

Meaning

Conscience. The inner sense of right and wrong that guides a person's moral judgement.

A noun referring to the internal moral compass that tells a person what is right and wrong. Common collocations include 良心に従う (ryoushin ni shitagau, to follow one's conscience), 良心が痛む (ryoushin ga itamu, to have a guilty conscience), 良心的 (ryoushinteki, conscientious), and 良心の呵責 (ryoushin no kashaku, pangs of conscience/remorse). A fundamental word in ethical and moral discourse.

Examples

1. 良心に従って正しいことをするべきだ。 You should do what is right and follow your conscience.
2. 嘘をついた後、良心が痛んで眠れなかった。 After telling a lie, my conscience bothered me so much I couldn't sleep.
3. あの店は良心的な価格で評判がいい。 That store has a great reputation for its fair prices.

Usage Guide

Context: ethics, morality, philosophy, daily life

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 良 (ryou, good/virtuous) + 心 (shin, heart/mind). Literally 'the good heart' — the virtuous part of one's mind that knows right from wrong.

Cultural Context

Era: Historical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal