benevolence; kindness; goodness
Emphasizes a generous, charitable, or compassionate nature. Often overlaps with 徳 in the sense of moral character, but focuses on active goodwill.
He does volunteer work every day to build up his virtue.
I relied on his benevolence and received help.
It is difficult to gain profit from this deal.
The king bestowed benevolence upon his people.
人徳 is the personal charisma or goodness that makes others naturally drawn to someone, while 徳 is the more general term for moral goodness or benevolence.
徳 refers to personal virtue or moral character built up through conduct, while 善 is the more abstract concept of goodness itself, often paired against 悪.
morals; morality
vice; immorality; corruption
immorality; corruption; moral lapse
virtue; moral excellence
economical; good value · economy size; family size
merit; virtuous deed; act of charity · divine reward; blessing; grace · merit; meritum
immorality; impropriety
virtue gained through Buddhist practice
personal virtue; natural goodness
Standard kanji spelling for moral virtue and benevolence. Also used for the 'profit/advantage' sense, though 得 is more common for that meaning.
Kana spelling is acceptable in casual writing, especially when the intended sense is clear from context.
The kanji 徳 has been used historically to represent moral virtue and benevolence. The reading とく is the on'yomi. The sense of 'profit' likely arose from a semantic overlap with 得 (とく), which shares the same reading and means 'gain' or 'advantage'.
sake bottle; tokkuri · turtleneck; turtleneck sweater · non-swimmer; person who can't swim
saintliness; great virtue; eminent virtue
fortune; happiness and prosperity
repayment of kindness; showing gratitude; moral requital
virtue; moral excellence
imperial virtue; heavenly virtue · greatest virtue; highest virtue
benevolence; goodness
lack of virtue; immorality; vice; depravity; unworthiness
great virtue; high moral character · virtuous priest; high-ranking monk · rich person; wealthy individual
the five virtues (Confucianism) · tripod kettle stand; trivet · family crest shaped like a trivet
virtues; good moral qualities
divine virtues; divine grace
types of virtue; categories of virtue
womanly virtues
knowledge and virtue
virtue and influence; moral authority
virtuous; rich
virtue; bright virtue · Meitoku era
three cardinal virtues · three uses; three advantages · three qualities of nirvana; three virtues of Buddhahood · Edo-period three-pocket pouch
debt cancellation order
emperor's virtue