noun
influence of great virtue; blessings from ancestors' virtue
Refers to the lasting positive influence or blessings that flow from the virtue of a great person or one's ancestors. Often used in formal or literary contexts.
彼の成功は祖父の余徳によるものだと言われている。
His success is said to be due to the influence of his grandfather's virtue.
この町の発展は先人たちの余徳のたまものだ。
The development of this town is a blessing from the virtue of our predecessors.
Compound of 余 (yo, 'surplus, remaining') and 徳 (toku, 'virtue'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term conveys the idea of virtue that extends beyond the original person.