美 徳(びとく)

びとく

noun

virtue, moral excellence

1. virtue, admirable quality, moral excellence

A quality or trait considered morally good or admirable. Can refer to both personal virtues and values prized by a society or culture.

忍耐(にんたい)は美徳(びとく)だ。

Patience is a virtue.

謙虚(けんきょ)さは日本(にほん)で大切(たいせつ)にされる美徳(びとく)の一(ひと)つだ。

Humility is one of the virtues valued in Japan.

勤勉(きんべん)さを美徳(びとく)とする文化(ぶんか)では、長時間(ちょうじかん)働(はたら)くことが当然(とうぜん)とされがちだ。

In cultures that consider diligence a virtue, working long hours tends to be taken for granted.

美徳(びとく) refers to a morally admirable quality or trait. It combines 美(び) (beauty) + 徳(とく) (virtue, morality).

Common patterns

～は美徳(びとく)だ: ~ is a virtue
～を美徳(びとく)とする: to regard ~ as a virtue
美徳(びとく)とされる: to be considered a virtue
最大(さいだい)の美徳(びとく): the greatest virtue

Related words

謙虚(けんきょ)さ: humility
忍耐(にんたい): patience, perseverance
勤勉(きんべん)さ: diligence
礼儀正(れいぎただ)しさ: politeness

Similar words

美徳(びとく): virtue (positive quality)
悪徳(あくとく): vice (negative quality)

Related Words

Antonym: 悪徳(あくとく) (vice)

Compare: 美点(びてん) (virtue)

Related: 忍耐(にんたい) (patience, perseverance)

general

Added 2026.2.27 15:31 · Revised 2026.10.15 22:26

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