道德
dàodé · HSK 5
moral
⚖️ 道 = way/path + 德 = virtue; literally the way of virtue = morality
道 means way or path (as in 道教 Daoism); 德 means virtue or moral character. Together 道德 names the path-of-virtue: ethics, morals, the value-system that guides conduct.
道 — 辶 (walk) + 首 (head)
Originally a compound of 辶 'walk/movement' and 首 'head', depicting a path one walks while looking ahead. The literal sense 'road, way' extended metaphorically to 'method, doctrine, the Way (Dao)'. This philosophical meaning became central in Daoist and Confucian thought.
德 — 彳 step + 直 straight + 心 heart
Originally written with 彳 (step/walk) plus 直 (straight) and 心 (heart), depicting walking a straight path with an upright heart. The bronze and seal forms emphasized inner uprightness, and the meaning shifted from 'straight conduct' to 'virtue, moral character,' and by extension 'kindness' or 'Germany' as a phonetic loan.