德行 (dé xíng) literally combines 德 (dé), meaning 'virtue', 'moral integrity', or 'moral power', and 行 (xíng), meaning 'conduct', 'behavior', or 'action'. Together, the term refers to a person’s consistent, observable virtuous conduct — not just inner goodness, but how that virtue manifests in daily actions, especially toward others. It carries strong Confucian connotations, emphasizing moral cultivation through practice rather than mere belief.

This word is formal and literary, commonly found in classical texts, ethical discussions, biographies, or evaluations of character. It implies long-term, habitual righteousness — such as honesty, humility, filial piety, or compassion — rather than a single good deed. While similar to 'morality' or 'ethics', 德行 focuses more on lived virtue: what one *does*, not just what one believes. It is often used in praise ('his 德行 is widely admired') or critique ('her lack of 德行 disappointed many'), and may appear in idioms like 德行天下 (virtue spreading throughout the world).