德政 (dé zhèng) — benevolent rule; virtuous governance

Definition

A formal, written term for 'virtuous governance' — a ruler's policies that benefit the people, typically used to discuss historical or political policy, not daily life.

noun
benevolent rulevirtuous governance

Examples

  • 德政。
    Gǔ dài xǔ duō jūn zhǔ dōu xī wàng shí xíng dé zhèng.
    Many ancient monarchs hoped to implement benevolent rule.
  • 德政。
    Zhè piān lùn wén fēn xī le zhōng guó lì shǐ shàng dé zhèng de tè diǎn.
    This paper analyzes the characteristics of virtuous governance in Chinese history.
  • 德政，。
    Lǎo bǎi xìng dōu pàn wàng zhe dé zhèng, guò shàng ān wěn de shēng huó.
    The common people all hope for benevolent rule and a stable life.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

德dévirtue
政zhènggovernance

“德” means virtue, “政” means governance; together they describe virtuous governance.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìroad
Sound part声符shēngfú
惪
惪dé德dé
Same sound today

德 combines 彳, a road, with 惪, a component meaning virtue that also supplies the sound.

Open 德 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pūaction
Sound part声符shēngfú
正
正zhèng政zhèng
Same sound today

政 combines 正, which gives the sound, with 攴, an action-related part.

Open 政 →

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