principle

信条、主義

何が正しく何が間違っているかについての、行動の指針となる考え。

やさしい英語で： A belief about right and wrong that guides how you behave.

• Honesty is an important principle for me.
• She refused the money on principle.
• Would you break your principles to help a friend?

使い方： on principle (He refuses to buy stolen goods on principle.); against someone’s principles (Lying to customers is against my principles.)

類義語： belief, value

よく使う表現： moral principle, matter of principle, principle of honesty, a firm principle

原理

物事がどのように働くかを説明する基本的な法則や考え。

やさしい英語で： A basic rule or idea that explains how something works.

• The machine works on a simple principle.
• We studied the principles of flight.
• Can you explain the principle behind this design?

使い方： principle behind something (The principle behind the pump is easy to understand.); principle of something (We learned the principle of heat transfer.)

類義語： rule, law

よく使う表現： basic principle, scientific principle, principle of something

原則、基本理念

ほかの考えや判断の土台となる、基本的な信念や決まり。

やさしい英語で： A basic belief, rule, or starting idea on which other ideas or decisions depend.

• Equality is a guiding principle of our organization.
• Their argument rests on two basic principles.
• We agreed on the principle that everyone should have a voice.

使い方： principle that + clause (We accept the principle that all votes have equal value.)

類義語： foundation, tenet

よく使う表現： guiding principle, fundamental principle, principle of equality