TongTong
Sign in

德高望重 (dé gāo wàng zhòng) — (idiom) of noble character and high prestige

Definition

A formal chengyu describing an elder with both high moral character (德高) and great public prestige (望重). Used in writing or formal speech to praise respected senior figures, not for casual compliments.

idiom
of noble character and high prestige

Examples

  • 德高望重，。
    Zhè wèi lǎo jiào shòu dé gāo wàng zhòng, shēn shòu xué shēng ài dài.
    This old professor is of noble character and high prestige, deeply loved by students.
  • 德高望重，。
    Tā zài gōng sī lǐ dé gāo wàng zhòng, dà jiā dōu tīng tā de jiàn yì.
    He is of noble character and high prestige in the company; everyone listens to his advice.
  • 德高望重。
    Zhè wèi dé gāo wàng zhòng de lǐng dǎo rén yíng dé le rén mín de zūn jìng.
    This leader of noble character and high prestige won the people's respect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

德高virtue high
德dévirtue高gāohigh
主谓Subject + predicate
望重prestige weighty
望wàngprestige重zhòngweighty
主谓Subject + predicate

德 virtue being 高 high and 望 prestige being 重 weighty together praise noble standing.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 臣臣chéneye
  • 𡈼𡈼𡈼person standing on the ground

望 originally showed 臣 (eye) beside 𡈼 (person standing on the ground): a person standing up and looking off into the distance. Later 月 was added, and the 臣 part became 亡.

Open 望 →

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
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
東
東dōng重zhòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

重 developed from a picture of a man carrying a bag, with 人 for the man and 東 for the bag; a later ground element was folded into the form.

Open 重 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.