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孝子 (xiào zǐ) — dutiful son (one who is filial to parents); son in mourning (observing filial rituals for a deceased parent)

Definition

A classical/traditional term for a son who deeply fulfills filial duties (孝顺) toward his parents. In older texts it can also mean a son in mourning for a deceased parent.

noun
dutiful son (one who is filial to parents)son in mourning (observing filial rituals for a deceased parent)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 孝子，。
    Tā shì yí wèi yǒu míng de xiào zǐ, chù chù xiào shùn fù mǔ.
    He is a famous dutiful son, filial to his parents in every way.
  • ，孝子，。
    Fù qīn qù shì hòu, tā zuò wéi xiào zǐ, rèn zhēn jǔ bàn le zàng lǐ.
    After his father's death, as a dutiful son, he solemnly held the funeral.
  • ，孝子。
    Zài gǔ dài, xiào zǐ shòu dào shè huì de zūn jìng.
    In ancient times, dutiful sons were respected by society.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

孝xiàofilial
子zǐson

孝 means filial and 子 means son; together they denote a dutiful son.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 耂耂lǎoan old man with long hair, bent over
  • 子子zǐa child

孝 puts 耂, an old man with long hair, bent over, above 子, a child, to show filial care between generations.

Open 孝 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Chinese Culture & CustomsFamily & Kinship

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