Use of 常識 for common sense


I find that 常識 is often translated as common sense, but to me the two have
different nuances, even different meanings. In English, having common sense is
more likely to mean "having the good sense to," say, look both ways when
crossing the street. It has less to do with knowing something specific, like
President Biden is a Democrat. The Japanese 常識 seems more expansive and
encompasses both meanings; but perhaps with a greater emphasis on the latter,
like knowing Shinkansen lines leave from both Tokyo and Ueno Stations. Am I
right? And if so, is there a more specific term in Japanese for "having the
good sense to"?




You are right, 常識 includes _knowledge_ as well as judgement. Generally it
means what the speaker thinks other people take for granted.

> [常識](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E5%B8%B8%E8%AD%98/#jn-108599)  
>  一般の社会人が共通にもつ、またもつべき普通の **知識・意見や判断力** 。「―がない人」「―で考えればわかる」「―に欠けた振る舞い」「―外れ」)  
>  [補説]common senseの訳語として明治時代から普及。(emphasis added)

The following J-E dictionary entry has multiple senses :

> [常識](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/en/%E5%B8%B8%E8%AD%98/#je-35642)  
>  1〔思慮分別〕common sense  
>  2〔周知のこと〕common knowledge  
>  3〔妥当なこと〕

* * *

A word for _good sense_ and not knowledge is
[良識](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E8%89%AF%E8%AD%98/#jn-232512). But at
least to me, this generally refers to moral judgements. Assuming that is not
always the case with _good sense_ , it may not be a perfect fit.




You are right, 常識 includes _knowledge_ as well as judgement. Generally it
means what the speaker thinks other people take for granted.

> [常識](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E5%B8%B8%E8%AD%98/#jn-108599)  
>  一般の社会人が共通にもつ、またもつべき普通の **知識・意見や判断力** 。「―がない人」「―で考えればわかる」「―に欠けた振る舞い」「―外れ」)  
>  [補説]common senseの訳語として明治時代から普及。(emphasis added)

The following J-E dictionary entry has multiple senses :

> [常識](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/en/%E5%B8%B8%E8%AD%98/#je-35642)  
>  1〔思慮分別〕common sense  
>  2〔周知のこと〕common knowledge  
>  3〔妥当なこと〕

* * *

A word for _good sense_ and not knowledge is
[良識](https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/%E8%89%AF%E8%AD%98/#jn-232512). But at
least to me, this generally refers to moral judgements. Assuming that is not
always the case with _good sense_ , it may not be a perfect fit.

