Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of go, heart, and straight. Virtue of straightening heart.
Symbolism
Morality, virtue, moral. Represents virtue.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents excellent moral qualities, goal of character cultivation. Spiritual character expected of rulers since ancient times.
Component Breakdown
彳 + 十 + net + heart
Words & Expressions
Words written with 徳
Four-Character Compounds
福徳円満
ふくとくえんまん
being perfectly happy and prosperous; wealth and happiness
Anime & Manga
俺は星間国家の悪徳領主!
I'm the Evil Lord of an Intergalactic Empire!
A well-known work with 徳 in its Japanese title.
不徳のギルド
Immoral Guild
A well-known work with 徳 in its Japanese title.
Related Figures & Stories
徳川家康
Name contains 徳
Tokugawa Ieyasu was a Japanese samurai, daimyo and the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan, which ruled from 1603 until the…
Wikipedia文徳天皇
Name contains 徳
Emperor Montoku was the 55th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Wikipedia狩野永徳
Name contains 徳
Kanō Eitoku was a Japanese painter who lived during the Azuchi–Momoyama period of Japanese history and one of the most prominent patriarchs of the…
Wikipedia幸徳秋水
Name contains 徳
Kōtoku Denjirō , better known by the pen name Kōtoku Shūsui , was a Japanese socialist and anarchist who played a leading role in introducing…
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“benevolence”
“virtue”
“goodness”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 徳 mean in Japanese?
徳 means benevolence, virtue, goodness, commanding respect.
How do you read 徳?
On'yomi: トク (TOKU).
How many strokes does 徳 have?
徳 has 14 strokes. Its radical is 彳 (step).
Is 徳 a good kanji for a tattoo?
徳 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means benevolence, virtue, goodness, commanding respect. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:benevolence · virtue · goodness