Translation guide
The English word 'virtue' covers moral excellence, a specific good quality, an advantage or benefit, and sometimes chastity. In Japanese, different words and expressions are used depending on the intended meaning.
Referring to the quality of being morally good or righteous, often in a philosophical or ethical sense.
The most common and general term for virtue in the sense of moral goodness, integrity, or ethical excellence. Used in both everyday and philosophical contexts.
彼は徳の高い人だ。
He is a person of high virtue.
徳を積むことが大切だ。
It is important to accumulate virtue.
Literally 'beautiful virtue', often used for specific virtues like honesty or kindness, or in discussions of moral ideals.
正直は美徳の一つだ。
Honesty is one of the virtues.
Means 'goodness' or 'the good', often used in philosophical or religious contexts. Can overlap with virtue but is broader.
善を行う。
To do good / practice virtue.
Referring to a particular moral quality, such as patience, honesty, or courage.
Used to list or discuss individual virtues. Often appears in phrases like 'the virtue of patience'.
忍耐は美徳だ。
Patience is a virtue.
彼女は多くの美徳を持っている。
She has many virtues.
Means 'strong point' or 'merit'. Can be used for personal virtues in a more everyday, less philosophical sense.
Referring to a good or useful feature of a thing, method, or situation.
Means 'advantage' or 'merit'. Used when talking about the virtues of a plan, product, etc.
この計画の利点はコストが低いことだ。
The virtue of this plan is its low cost.
Also used for the good points of things, not just people.
The phrase 'by virtue of' meaning 'as a result of' or 'because of'.
Means 'thanks to' or 'owing to'. Used for positive outcomes. Can be used for 'by virtue of' when the cause is favorable.
彼の努力のおかげで成功した。
We succeeded by virtue of his efforts.
A neutral way to say 'by' or 'due to'. Works for both positive and negative situations.
彼の地位によって、彼は影響力を持っている。
By virtue of his position, he has influence.
A formal, literary expression meaning 'because of'. Often used in written language.
彼の功績のゆえに、彼は称賛された。
By virtue of his achievements, he was praised.
Referring to sexual purity or chastity, often in a dated or euphemistic sense.
徳 (とく) is the general concept of virtue or moral goodness, while 美徳 (びとく) is often used for specific virtues or to emphasize the beauty of a moral quality. In many contexts they overlap, but 美徳 is more common when listing virtues like patience or honesty.
The English phrase 'by virtue of' should not be translated word-for-word. Use 〜のおかげで for positive causes, 〜によって for neutral or formal contexts, and avoid direct translations like 徳によって unless you mean 'by means of virtue' in a moral sense.
His virtue is his honesty.
The virtue of this car is its fuel efficiency.
Refers to one's sense of chastity or sexual morality.
彼女は貞操観念が強い。
She has a strong sense of virtue.