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积德 (jī dé) — (verb-object) to accumulate merit through good deeds (Buddhist/Daoist concept); (colloquial) to be kind, to be nice (often in 积点德 or 积积德)

Definition

A verb-object phrase meaning 'to accumulate merit through good deeds' (a Buddhist/Daoist idea). In casual speech, 积点德 is a scolding remark telling someone to 'have a heart' and stop being so harsh.

verb
(verb-object) to accumulate merit through good deeds (Buddhist/Daoist concept)(colloquial) to be kindto be nice (often in 积点德 or 积积德)

Examples

  • 积德。
    Tā yì shēng dōu zài jī dé.
    He spent his whole life accumulating merit.
  • ，。
    Nǐ jī diǎn dé ba, bié nà me kè bó.
    Have a heart; don't be so mean.
  • 积德。
    Duō zuò shàn shì kě yǐ jī dé.
    Doing more good deeds can accumulate merit.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

积jīaccumulate
德dévirtue/merit

'积' means accumulate, and '德' refers to virtue or merit, so the word means to accumulate merit.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 積; 积 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hé
Sound part声符shēngfú
責
責zé積jī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 積 pairs 禾 (grain) with 責, which gives the sound; the simplified 积 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 积 →

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 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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