morality / morale
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morality
The totality of ethical values and norms that determine behavior and coexistence in a society.
Die Frage, ob das Klonen von Menschen erlaubt sein sollte, ist eine Frage der Moral.
The question of whether human cloning should be allowed is a question of morality.
The two main meanings can be distinguished well: If it is about values and ethical principles in society, 'Moral' (morality) is meant in the philosophical sense. If it is about the motivation and fighting spirit of a group (e.g., a team, soldiers), it refers to the psychological state, i.e. morale.
Die Debatte über künstliche Intelligenz wirft viele Fragen der Moral auf.
The debate about artificial intelligence raises many questions of morality.
When 'Moral' (morale) means team spirit, it is often used with verbs such as 'heben' (to raise), 'stärken' (to strengthen), 'sinken' (to sink/decline), or 'untergraben' (to undermine). Typical nouns are 'Mannschaft' (team), 'Truppe' (troop/unit), or 'Belegschaft' (workforce/staff).
Schlechte Arbeitsbedingungen können die Moral der Mitarbeiter untergraben.
Poor working conditions can undermine employee morale.
The lesson from a story is almost always introduced with the fixed expression 'Die Moral von der Geschicht'…' (the moral of the story...). The apostrophe at the end of 'Geschicht'' is typical for this idiom.
Am Ende der Fabel erklärte der Erzähler: „Und die Moral von der Geschicht': Sei vorsichtig, wem du vertraust.“
At the end of the fable, the narrator explained: 'And the moral of the story: Be careful whom you trust.'
The word 'Doppelmoral' (double standard / double standards) is a compound of 'doppel' (double) and 'Moral' (morality). It literally describes a 'double morality', meaning the application of different moral standards to oneself and to others.
Er wirft anderen Geiz vor, ist aber selbst nicht bereit zu teilen. Das ist Doppelmoral.
He accuses others of being stingy but is not willing to share himself. That's a double standard.
meaning / sense
'der Sinn' and 'die Moral' can both mean the deeper idea behind a story or an event. 'Sinn' is more general: it is about meaning, purpose, or what something is really supposed to say. 'Moral' fits especially with stories, fables, or experiences from which you can draw a lesson. Learners may confuse the words because both ask, 'What is this supposed to mean?' But 'Moral' is narrower: it usually says what lesson about proper behavior you take away from it.
Die Moral der Geschichte ist, dass Ehrlichkeit wichtig bleibt.
The moral of the story is that honesty remains important.
Nach dem Gespräch habe ich den Sinn seiner Worte besser verstanden.
After the conversation, I understood the meaning of his words better.