五徳

Japanese

Kanji in this term
五	徳
ご Grade: 1	とく Grade: 4
on’yomi

Alternative spelling
五德 (kyūjitai)

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ごとく [gòtókú] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ɡo̞to̞kɯ̟ᵝ]

Noun

五(ご)徳(とく) • (gotoku) ^{←ごとく (gotoku)?}

1. (Confucianism) the five virtues

   Synonym: 五常 (gojō)

2. trivet, stove grate

Usage notes

The “five virtues” of Confucianism are 仁(じん) (jin, “benevolence”), 義(ぎ) (gi, “righteousness”), 礼(れい) (rei, “propriety”), 智(ち) (chi, “wisdom; knowledge”), and 信(しん) (shin, “integrity; morality”). Compare the “three bonds” (三綱(さんこう) (sankō) lord–subject, parent–child, and husband–wife), which together make up 三綱五常(さんこうごじょう) (sankōgojō), the Three Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant Virtues.

See also

• 三脚(さんきゃく) (sankyaku, “tripod”)