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

JAPANESE VIRTUES OFTEN DISCUSSED:

  • 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

CONTRAST:

  • 美徳(びとく): virtue (positive quality)
  • 悪徳(あくとく): vice (negative quality)
general
Added 2026.2.27 15:31 · Revised 2026.3.30 11:16
13500/13899_bitoku