filial piety
Americannoun
Usage
What is filial piety? Filial piety is the Confucian virtue of honoring the elders in your family. In English, we use an older, Latin-based expression to name this social principle of parental respect. Filial generally means “relating to a son or daughter” or “concerning a parent-child relationship.” Piety, here, is “dutiful respect.” Together, filial piety refers to a child’s service towards their parents as well as other older extended relatives. Although the idea of “respecting your elders” exists in many cultures, the phrase filial piety is especially used in the context of respect for the elderly in Chinese families.
Etymology
Origin of filial piety
First recorded in 1610–20
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The discussions range from people frustrated with controlling parents, to those exhausted from the pressure to excel academically or heed advice in the name of "filial piety".
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
Traditionally, offspring have been expected to support their elders and demonstrate filial piety above all else.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2023
"Especially for Asians, it's critical to have filial piety — you honor the family name. And that's a hit not only to her personal reputation but her name and family," the former official said.
From Salon ● Jan. 26, 2023
A cornerstone of Confucian virtue is filial piety.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 15, 2022
When his uncle came again Wang Lung cried out, “Even filial piety will not feed my house!” and he sent his uncle empty away.
From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
