義

Although we have two grandfathers of different meanings, my personal bias on the most representative word that characterizes Chinese is Yi (義).

Yes, I put up a phonemic translation, for there is no easy semantic method to turn this simple word into English - even though its meaning seems to be well understood by all descendants of the Yellow Emperor. To visitors not familiar with our culture, the meaning is a delicate mixture of uprightness, rectitude, impartiality, justice, righteous, morality, humanities, and decency. 


Oh, no, there's more. The core value - if I am allowed to use this western jargon - of Yi is an unfailing attitude and the special self-awareness of responsibility to our friend.


A virtue long lost in translation.