德

悳/惪

dé

彳 + 𢛳

Definitions

dé (noun) virtue; morality; goodness; ethics

Dé (noun) Germany

Etymology

Originally written as 惪, depicting a straight (直) heart (心). The 彳 (walk) component was added later.

Semantic: 心

About

Originally written as 惪, with 直 (straight) over 心 (heart), the character conveyed an upright inner state. The walking radical 彳 was later added to form 德, a phono-semantic compound where 惪 suggests both the sound dé and the notion of moral straightness. This blends inner rectitude with the act of walking a straight path, yielding its core meanings of virtue, integrity, and ethical conduct, concepts central to Chinese philosophical thought.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的品德很好。

Tā de pǐndé hěn hǎo.

His character is very good.

德国是一个欧洲国家。

Déguó shì yīgè Ōuzhōu guójiā.

Germany is a European country.

道德教育很重要。

Dàodé jiàoyù hěn zhòngyào.

Moral education is very important.

她具有高尚的美德。

Tā jùyǒu gāoshàng de měidé.

She possesses noble virtues.

德才兼备的人很难得。

Décái jiānbèi de rén hěn nándé.

People who have both integrity and ability are rare.

他的行为体现了良好的职业道德。

Tā de xíngwéi tǐxiàn le liánghǎo de zhíyè dàodé.

His behavior reflects good professional ethics.

在德国，人们非常注重守时和诚信的品德。

Zài Déguó, rénmen fēicháng zhùzhòng shǒushí hé chéngxìn de pǐndé.

In Germany, people pay great attention to punctuality and honesty as part of their character.

培养社会公德心是每个公民的责任。

Péiyǎng shèhuì gōngdéxīn shì měi gè gōngmín de zérèn.

Cultivating a sense of social morality is the responsibility of every citizen.

Related Characters

Component: 彳

Component: 𢛳

Example Words