Hanzi Now
CharactersIdiomsChinese NameFlashcards
Tools

Visual content

  • Chinese Text Image GeneratorCreate PNGs with pinyin, highlight character parts or remove strokes
  • Stroke Order AnimatorTurn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
  • Character Highlight AnimatorChoose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
  • Chinese Text Morph AnimatorTurn one Chinese character, word or phrase into another; download SVG, MP4 or WebM

Audio content

  • Chinese Text to SpeechRead Chinese aloud with karaoke highlighting

Teaching materials

  • Writing WorksheetsPrintable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
  • Bingo CardsPicture and word Bingo for your class
  • Picture WorksheetsChinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Other

  • Pinyin GeneratorConvert Chinese text to pinyin with tone marks
  • Chinese Zodiac CalculatorFind your animal sign from your birth date and make a zodiac card.
  • Chinese Word CounterCount characters, words and sentences in Chinese text
View all tools →
德本财末
德本财末
德本财末
德本财末
德本财末
德本财末
德本财末
德本财末

德本财末 — “Virtue is fundamental, while material wealth is secondary”

德本财末 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Virtue is fundamental, while material wealth is secondary”. Literally, “Virtue is the root, wealth is the branch”.

Frequency

德本财末 Pronunciation and Pinyin

德本财末 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order
CharacterPinyinStrokesMeaning
德
dé15moral character or virtue
本
běn5root, origin, fundamental, main
财
cái7money, goods, and wealth
末
mò5end, tip, powder, secondary

Example Sentence with 德本财末

一个成功的企业,应奉行德本财末的原则,以诚信和品质赢得市场,而非一味追求短期利益。
A successful enterprise should adhere to the principle that virtue is fundamental and wealth is secondary, winning the market with integrity and quality, rather than merely pursuing short-term profits.

Idioms Related to 德本财末

More idioms starting with 德

  • dé德yǐ以bào抱yuàn怨repay evil with good
  • dé德hòu厚liú流guāng光Profound virtue, far-reaching influence
  • dé德róng容jiān兼bèi备possessing both virtue and beauty
  • dé德róng容yán言gōng功four virtues of women
  • dé德zūn尊wàng望zhòng重highly respected for virtue and prestige
  • dé德cái才jiān兼bèi备possess both virtue and talent
  • dé德yáng洋ēn恩pǔ普virtue and grace reaching all
  • dé德qiǎn浅xíng行báo薄shallow virtue and weak conduct
  • dé德shēn深wàng望zhòng重of profound virtue and high prestige
  • dé德shèng胜tóu头huí回prologue of a vernacular novel
  • dé德shèng胜tóu头huí迴prologue or opening chapter
  • dé德yì艺shuāng双xīn馨excellent in both virtue and art

Recommended tools

Picture Worksheets

Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets

Open the tool →

Stroke Order Animator

Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4

Open the tool →

Character Highlight Animator

Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order

Open the tool →

Writing Worksheets

Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion

Open the tool →

Questions about 德本财末

What does 德本财末 mean?

德本财末 (dé běn cái mò) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “Virtue is fundamental, while material wealth is secondary”.

How do you pronounce 德本财末?

德本财末 is pronounced dé běn cái mò in Mandarin Chinese.

What does 德本财末 literally mean?

Literally, 德本财末 means “Virtue is the root, wealth is the branch”. It is used to mean “Virtue is fundamental, while material wealth is secondary”.

What is the Chinese definition of 德本财末?

指治国平天下,德为根本,财由德致,故理财为末。

Hanzi Now

Explore the charm of Chinese language

Explore

  • Characters
  • Idioms
  • Chinese Names
  • Flashcards

Tools

  • Chinese Text Image Generator
  • Stroke Order Animator
  • Character Highlight Animator
  • Bingo Cards
  • Picture Worksheets
  • All Tools

More

  • Blog
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2026 Hanzi NowContact Us