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德 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
德
dé
Germany
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
German
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
virtue
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
goodness
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
morality
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
ethics
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
kindness
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
favor
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
character
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
kind
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
ethics, morality; compassion, kindness
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
abbr. for 德國
HSK 7, ns, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
德
dé
abbr. for 德國|德国[De2 guo2]
HSK 7, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 彳, rank #1162, Very Hard
dé(De2)de T2
1Germany
2German
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March 24, 2026
德dé(De2)
The character 德 (dé) primarily refers to virtue, goodness, and morality, often associated with ethical behavior and moral character. In addition, it serves as an abbreviation for Germany (德国, Déguó), linking it to both cultural and ethical concepts in Chinese society.
Strokes15Radical彳Frequency#1162DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 德 is foundational to Confucianism, emphasizing the importance of ethical behavior and moral integrity in society. It is often invoked in discussions about leadership and personal conduct.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'deer' (sounds like 'dé') standing proudly, symbolizing virtue and kindness in its graceful nature. The character itself has a radical that resembles a person, suggesting morality is deeply rooted in human behavior.
Meanings of 德
dé(De2)
1Germany
2German
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 德
德Simplified
15Strokes
彳Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#1162Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 德
Podcast: 德
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AI study notes for 德
Usage Notes
德 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to discuss ethics and character. Be careful to distinguish between its meanings related to morality and its geographical reference to Germany, as misinterpretation can lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
德 is often associated with other HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to personal qualities and moral discussions, such as 善 (shàn, goodness) and 义 (yì, righteousness). Focus on recognizing its usage in phrases and proverbs about morality.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 德 with the word for 'Germany' when speaking quickly. For example, saying '我喜欢德' (Wǒ xǐhuān dé) incorrectly implies liking 'virtue' instead of saying '我喜欢德国' (Wǒ xǐhuān Déguó) for 'I like Germany.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 德
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The character 德 (dé) primarily refers to virtue, goodness, and morality, often associated with ethical behavior and moral character. In addition, it serves as an abbreviation for Germany (德国, Déguó), linking it to both cultural and ethical concepts in Chinese society.
When to use 德
德 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to discuss ethics and character. Be careful to distinguish between its meanings related to morality and its geographical reference to Germany, as misinterpretation can lead to confusion.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 德 with the word for 'Germany' when speaking quickly. For example, saying '我喜欢德' (Wǒ xǐhuān dé) incorrectly implies liking 'virtue' instead of saying '我喜欢德国' (Wǒ xǐhuān Déguó) for 'I like Germany.'
Write 德
德
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Grammar patterns of 德
德 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 13 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他对于法国、____国和荷兰的文学了如指掌。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
Common confusions with 德
德vs得
dé
Similar pronunciation but different usage.
德vs特
tè
Similar shape but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “Germany”?
or
Example sentences for 德 (16)
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1
他对于法国、德国和荷兰的文学了如指掌。
tā duìyú fǎ guó、 dé guó hé hé lán de wénxué le rú zhǐ zhǎng。
He was well acquainted with the literature of France, Germany and Holland.
刘德华liúdéhuáAndy Lau (1961-), Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actor劉德華
美德měidéUSA and Germany
德语déyǔGerman (language)德語
德国人déguórénGerman person or people德國人
品德pǐndémoral character
理查德lǐchádéRichard (name)
德育déyùmoral education
哈罗德hāluódéHarold, Harald, Harrod (name)哈囉德
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 德
What does 德国 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 德
德 (dé) refers to virtue or ethics, while 德国 (Déguó) specifically means Germany. Understanding this distinction is important for clarity in conversation, especially when discussing topics related to culture or language.
Synonyms for 德 include 伦理 (lúnlǐ), which means ethics, and 善良 (shànliáng), meaning kindness. These words can often be used in discussions about moral philosophy or character assessments.
德 (dé) primarily means 'virtue' or 'ethics' in Chinese. It can also refer to Germany or the German language as an abbreviation for 德国 (Déguó). In a broader context, it embodies concepts of kindness and favor.
德 can be used to describe someone's moral character or ethical behavior. For example, you might say '他很有德' (Tā hěn yǒu dé), meaning 'He has a lot of virtue.' It can also appear in contexts discussing moral philosophy or ethics.
德 refers to virtue and moral character, embodying the principles of good behavior and ethics.
德 is pronounced as 'dé' with a rising tone.
Yes, it can describe someone's character or moral qualities.
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