1An idea, notion, or concept—a way of understanding or thinking about something.
時間の観念は文化によって大きく異なる。
The concept of time differs greatly between cultures.
子供のころに植え付けられた観念はなかなか変わらない。
Notions instilled in childhood are hard to change.
彼は伝統的な家族の観念にとらわれている。
He is bound by a traditional notion of family.
2A sense or awareness of duty, responsibility, or morality, used in phrases like 時間の観念が強い (having a strong sense of punctuality).
最近の若者は時間の観念がしっかりしている人が多い。
Many young people these days have a strong sense of punctuality.
彼には規則を守る観念が欠けている。
He lacks a sense of the importance of following rules.
3To resign oneself to an inescapable situation; to give up and accept it. Used as the verb 観念する.
犯人は警察に囲まれて、ついに観念した。
Surrounded by the police, the culprit finally gave himself up.
これ以上言い訳できないと観念して、正直に話した。
Realizing he had no more excuses, he resigned himself and told the truth.
締め切りに間に合わないと観念して、上司に謝った。
I accepted that I wouldn't make the deadline and apologized to my boss.
4(Buddhism) To calmly contemplate an object of meditation in order to perceive the truth.
僧は毎朝、観念のために静かに座って心を鎮める。
Every morning, the monk sits quietly in contemplation to calm his mind.