徳

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 徳, read とく, denotes moral virtue or goodness of character.
• Basic usage: In 困っている人を黙って助けるのは、彼の徳の表れだ。, quietly helping someone in trouble reveals his virtue.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Homophone 得
  • 徳 and 得 are both read とく, but 徳 means virtue and 得 means benefit or gain.
• Cultivating virtue
  • 徳を積む describes cultivating virtue through repeated good deeds. 徳の表れ refers to that character showing itself in behavior.