noun, expression
cordial, obedient, respectful, modest, and moderate
A set phrase describing the ideal Confucian virtues, originally said of Confucius. Rare in modern conversation; mainly encountered in classical or literary contexts.
論語には「温良恭倹譲」という言葉が出てくる。
The phrase 'cordial, obedient, respectful, modest, and moderate' appears in the Analects.
From the Analects of Confucius. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the phrase is conventionally associated with the five virtues described.