The Meaning of shinri [真理] In Japanese

真理
しんり
Romaji: shinri N1

What does 真理 mean?

Translation and Meaning

truth, principle, reality

Definition

Truth in a philosophical sense, 真理 denotes the state of alignment between belief and fact or the fundamental reality and rational principle that underlies phenomena. It is used in formal discourse to refer to ultimate truth rather than everyday correctness.

Type

noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1) Core sense: truth as correspondence with fact in philosophy and science.
  • 2) Essential nature: the underlying principle or rational order that governs phenomena.

Etymology

shinri is a Sino-Japanese compound of 真 (true) and 理 (reason, logic); the reading shinri comes from the on’yomi of the two kanji, forming a formal term used in philosophy.

Origin

In Japanese intellectual history, 真理 emerged in the context of Buddhist and Confucian thought and was integrated into Japanese scholarly language during the Heian through Edo periods, continuing into modern philosophy and religious discourse.

Composition

  • 真: true, real; authenticity
  • 理: reason, logic, principle

Usage

Primarily used in formal, academic, and philosophical contexts to denote ultimate truth or fundamental reality; typical in philosophical essays, theology, epistemology, and ethical debates; not common in casual conversation.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: connect the two characters as a mental cue for the concept—真 for real truth, 理 for the principle behind things; think of a perfectly aligned reality when you see shinri.

Variations

  • 真実 (shinjitsu) — truth
  • 現実 (genjitsu) — reality
  • 虚偽 (kyogi) — falsehood
  • 真理値 (shinritchi) — truth value

Example Phrases

  • 友達と話して、真理は自分で見つけるものだ。
    Tomodachi to hanashite, shinri wa jibun de mitsukeru mono da.
    While talking with a friend, truth is something you find by yourself.
    Lista:
    • 友達 (tomodachi) – friend
    • と (to) – with
    • 話して (hanashite) – talking
    • 真理 (shinri) – truth
    • は (wa) – topic marker
    • 自分 (jibun) – oneself
    • で (de) – by
    • 見つける (mitsukeru) – to find
    • ものだ (mono da) – is a thing
    Here, 「真理」 is the topic marked by は; the pattern 〜ものだ expresses a general truth.
真理