filial piety

[ fil-ee-uhl pahy-i-tee ]

noun
  1. (in Confucianism) the important virtue and primary duty of respect, obedience, and care for one's parents and elderly family members.

Origin of filial piety

1
First recorded in 1610–20

Words Nearby filial piety

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use filial piety in a sentence

  • Soon, however, his noble features brightened with a fervent look of blended filial piety and exultation.

  • There was something sublime, as well as much that was supremely touching, in this act of filial piety.

    The Pathfinder | James Fenimore Cooper
  • No wonder that such filial piety as his was rewarded with dominion, wealth, and fame.

  • Shun displayed his filial piety on a huge scale, and brought great honour to his parents and to himself.

  • It was made yet more touchingly memorable at that time, as you may have heard, by an instance of filial piety.

    Eugene Aram, Complete | Edward Bulwer-Lytton