The word 道德 is formed by combining two ancient philosophical concepts: 道 (dào), which originally meant "the way" or "the natural, cosmic order and path of righteousness", and 德 (dé), which signifies "virtue", "integrity", or "the moral power gained by living in accordance with 道". Together, they create a compound term where the first component (道) provides the foundational principle or universal standard, and the second component (德) represents the cultivated quality and ethical conduct that manifests from understanding and following that principle. Thus, the formation is conceptual, merging the abstract "way of the universe" with the personal "virtue" that aligns with it, to collectively mean "morality" or "ethics".