原理（げんり、genri）
- principle

The Japanese word 原理 (げんり) means "principle," "fundamental principle," "basic law," or "theory." It refers to the underlying rules, concepts, or truths that govern a specific field, system, or phenomenon. It implies a fundamental, essential idea that explains how something works. 原理 can be applied to various contexts, from scientific disciplines to ethical considerations. The word emphasizes the core reasoning behind a process or situation.

⚫︎科学の原理 Translation: Scientific principle ⚫︎行動の原理 Translation: Principle of action ⚫︎このシステムの原理は何ですか？ Translation: What is the principle of this system?

You can use 原理 in a variety of situations when discussing the underlying rules or concepts that govern something. ⚫︎It is often used in academic or technical contexts, such as in scientific discussions, engineering, or philosophy. ⚫︎It's suitable for explaining how something functions at its most basic level. ⚫︎You can use it to refer to ethical or moral principles. ⚫︎Consider using more specific terminology if you want to avoid sounding overly formal.

原理 is written using kanji and has the reading げんり in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word, and the okurigana (suffix hiragana) is standard.

⚫︎原則 (げんそく) - principle, general rule ⚫︎基本 (きほん) - basis, foundation, fundamental ⚫︎理論 (りろん) - theory ⚫︎法則 (ほうそく) - law, rule ⚫︎根本 (こんぽん) - root, foundation, basis

There aren't direct antonyms for 原理. The opposite would depend on the specific context of the principle being discussed. However, you could consider words that imply a lack of 原理 or understanding, such as: ⚫︎例外 (れいがい) - exception ⚫︎不規則 (ふきそく) - irregularity ⚫︎無秩序 (むちつじょ) - disorder

物理学の原理を理解するためには、数学の知識が必要です。 ・Translation: To understand the principles of physics, knowledge of mathematics is necessary. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 原理 in a scientific context, highlighting the importance of understanding underlying concepts.

この会社は、顧客第一の原理に基づいて運営されています。 ・Translation: This company is run based on the principle of putting the customer first. ・Explanation: This example shows the use of 原理 in a business context, emphasizing the guiding principles of the company.

The word 原理 is a compound word. ⚫︎原 (げん) means "original," "source," or "fundamental." ⚫︎理 (り) means "reason," "principle," or "logic." So, 原理 literally translates to "original principle" or "fundamental reason."