“德”有兩種不同含義：其一，指個人的良好品格或人們在社會共同生活中的良好品行。“德”原初的意義與行為有關，主要指外在的道德行為，后兼指與道德行為相應的內在的情感、意識。“德”被認為是外在的道德行為與內在的道德情感、道德意識的結合。其二，指事物從“道”所得的特殊規律或特性，是幽隱無形的“道”的具體顯現，也是事物產生和存在的內在依據。

The term has two different meanings. One is an individual's fine moral character, or his proper conduct in society. At first de (德) was only related to an individual's behavior, referring to his external moral conduct. Later, it also referred to something that combined external behavior with internal emotions and moral consciousness. The other meaning of de refers to the special laws and features obtained from dao, or the physical manifestation of the hidden and formless dao, as well as the internal basis for the origination and existence of all things.

引例 Citations：

◎天生烝民，有物有則，民之秉彝，好是懿德。（《詩經·大雅·烝民》）

上天降生眾民，有事物就有法則，民眾遵守普遍的法則，崇好這樣的美德。

Heaven gives birth to people, provides them with goods and materials, and subjects them to rules. People obey universal rules and value virtues. (The Book of Songs)

◎道生之，德畜之。（《老子·五十一章》）

道生成萬物，德蓄養萬物。

Dao creates all things under heaven while de nurtures them. (Laozi)

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供稿：北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社

責任編輯：錢耐安