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大家请教 “何德何能” 什么意思?
Jul 26, 2015 5:19 AM
Answers · 6
1
It means someone doesn't have that much moral or abilities. Usually it's way of being modest in China, not common in western countries maybe.
E.G.
--你将成为我们的领袖。(You'll be our leader.)
--我何德何能来担此重任呢?(How can I? I am not that capable or noble.)
July 26, 2015
1
德 = virtues, good qualities
能 = ability
The phrase "何德何能" is used in a rhetorical question, such as "他何德何能出任我们组长?" The meaning is "He does not." Thus it is often used in a criticism or a challenge.
July 26, 2015
德:morality
能:capacity
何:which / which kind of
In ancient china, if a person want to be a leader, such as a mayor, a king, he must have two things: 德 and 能. Furthermore, 德 is more important than 能, meaning that a leader could have no 能 but he must have 德. This is why we put 德 first ---- because it is more important.
何德何能:which kind of 德 and which kind of 能.
When we select a person to be a leader, normally he should be modest. For example, we are a team, and I say that you can be our leader, then you can say: no, I am not good enough ---- now you are modest. In chinese, we say: 我有什么样的品德和什么样的能力,去担任这个职位呢? ------- meaning that I am not good enough, I can't be the leader. For this case, we have a 成语:何德何能 to express the same thing.
e.g.
- "plz be our leader."
- "我何德何能,做大家的领导呢?"
July 26, 2015
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Language Skills
Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, Korean
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin), English
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