HSK · Level 122
47 words
Chinese word
德
Pronunciation
Pinyindé
Meaning
- nounvirtue
Example
他的德行让我很佩服。tā de dé xíng ràng wǒ hěn pèi fú
His virtue earns my deep respect.
More examples
学校强调德育的重要性。xué xiào qiáng diào dé yù de zhòng yào xìng
The school emphasizes the importance of moral education.
Core concept
An upright moral center guides conduct and creates a standard others can respect.
Common phrases
道德dào dé
morality
德育dé yù
moral education
德行dé xíng
virtuous conduct
Similar words
道德dào dé: The moral rules and values that a society or group accepts as right.
品德pǐn dé: The moral goodness seen in a person's character and behavior.
德行dé xíng: Good deeds and personal integrity shown in everyday words and actions.
美德měi dé: An admirable moral quality or action that people respect.
Definition in Chinese
指个人内心的善良品质以及由此表现出来的行为，也可指社会认可的道德规范。zhǐ gè rén nèi xīn de shàn liáng pǐn zhì yǐ jí yóu cǐ biǎo xiàn chū lái de xíng wéi yě kě zhǐ shè huì rèn kě de dào dé guī fàn
Word origin
德 (dé, "virtue") is traditionally analyzed as 彳 (chì, "step") + 直 (zhí, "straight") + 心 (xīn, "heart"), linking a straight heart with the way a person acts.
Usage tips
- For everyday speech, 德 (dé, "virtue") is more natural in set compounds like 道德 (dàodé, "morality") and 品德 (pǐndé, "character") than as a casual stand-alone compliment.