Confucius

American  

[kuhn-fyoo-shuhs] / kənˈfyu ʃəs /

noun

1. Kǔng Qiū, 551? b.c.–478? b.c., Chinese philosopher and teacher.

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Confucius British  

/ kənˈfjuːʃəs /

noun

1. Chinese name Kong Zi or K'ung Fu-tse. 551–479 _bc , Chinese philosopher and teacher of ethics (see Confucianism ). His doctrines were compiled after his death under the title The Analects of Confucius

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Confucius Cultural  

1. A Chinese philosopher of the sixth century b.c.; the founder of Confucianism. His teachings have come down to us as a collection of short sayings.

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Etymology

Origin of Confucius

First recorded in 1770–80; Latinization of Chinese Kǔng Fūzǐ “Master Kung” (birth name Kǔng Qiū ) by European Jesuits in China in the 17th century

Example Sentences

Some academics also reported intimidation by visiting scholars or other Chinese officials, as well as by staff at Confucius Institutes.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

China has slowly expanded its soft power by opening its first Confucius Institute in the country and providing a grant to build a railway.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2025

By October, nearly all Confucius Institutes, a Beijing-backed Chinese language and culture program, had closed on American university campuses.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 23, 2023

FBI Director Christopher Wray has described China’s Confucius Institutes as an element of Beijing’s attempts to wield its soft power.

From Washington Times • Oct. 31, 2023

The classics were the books supposedly written by Confucius and the ancients, about the correct way to live.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep