📖 Meaning
To evaluate a person by weighing both their moral character and their actual contributions. It captures the principle that appointments and rewards should consider virtue (德) and merit (功) together, not one in isolation.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the chapter 'Lord and Minister, Part II' (《君臣下》) in the Guanzi (《管子》), a foundational political-economic text of the Spring and Autumn period traditionally associated with Guan Zhong, the famed chancellor of the State of Qi who helped Duke Huan of Qi become the first hegemon (霸主) of that era. The original line '称德度功，劝其所能' advises rulers that when employing ministers, they should weigh moral integrity alongside concrete achievements, and encourage each person according to what they can actually do. The saying thus embeds a pragmatic Confucian-Legalist fusion: virtue without results is hollow, results without virtue are dangerous.
💡 Example Usage
选拔干部应当称德度功，既要看人品，也要看实绩。
When promoting officials, one should weigh both character and merit — looking at integrity as well as actual results.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 称德度功
- Pinyin: chēng dé duó gōng
- Literal Translation: weigh, virtue, measure, merit
- Category: Leadership
- Characters: 4