Meaning

Primary

Reason

Alternatives

Sense, Intellect

Word Type

noun

Explanation

If you have reason in your nature, you have reason, sense and intellect.

This is "reason" as in logical thinking.

Reading

りせい
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

This is a jukugo word that uses the on'yomi readings of the kanji. You should be able to read this on your own.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 理性を持つ

    to have reason

    理性を失う

    to lose one's sense of reason

    理性を保つ

    to maintain control of one's reason

Context Sentences

お酒を飲みすぎて、完全に理性を失ってしまっていました。

I had too much drink and I lost all sense of reason.

ビエトは、今時は、ヤクザもぼう力にたよるんじゃなく、理性にうったえなくっちゃダメだって言ってたよ。

Viet said that nowadays even yakuza have to appeal to intellect instead of resorting to violence.

ダメだと分かっていたが、理性を保てなかったんだ。

I understood it was hopeless, but I couldn’t hold on to reason.

Kanji Composition