孝顺

• Pinyin: xiào shùn
• Hanzi breakdown: 孝 = 老 + 子 (old + child — child supporting an elder); 顺 = 川 + 页 (river + head — flowing smoothly, compliant)

Meaning

Filially obedient; dutiful to parents. Describes a child who respects, obeys, and cares for their parents in accordance with Confucian values.

孝顺 is one of the most highly valued virtues in traditional Chinese culture. It encompasses both attitude (reverence and love) and action (care, financial support, obedience). Historically, it was a prerequisite for social respectability and official appointment. Today it remains a core expectation in Chinese families.

Examples

1. 她是个十分孝顺的女儿，每天打电话问候父母，假期必定回家陪伴二老。 She is a very dutiful daughter: she calls her parents every day, and she always goes home to spend time with them during holidays.
2. 邻居们都夸他孝顺，逢年过节从不让父母独守空屋，总是设法赶回家团聚。 The neighbors all praise him for being dutiful; during holidays he never lets his parents sit alone in an empty house and always finds a way to come back for a reunion.
3. 中国传统文化将孝顺视为百行之首，认为一个连父母都不孝顺的人，难以真正忠于他人。 Traditional Chinese culture regards filial devotion as the foremost virtue, believing that someone who isn’t dutiful to their parents is unlikely to be truly loyal to others.

Usage Guide

Context: family, Confucianism, social values, ethics

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 在中国社会中，孝顺不仅是个人美德的体现，更是衡量一个人品格与社会责任感的重要标准。(In Chinese society, filial obedience is not only an expression of personal virtue but also an important standard by which a person's character and sense of social responsibility are measured.)
• 他虽然工作繁忙，但仍坚持每周末抽出时间陪伴父母，展现了难得的孝顺之心。(Although he is busy with work, he insists on setting aside time each weekend to be with his parents — a demonstration of rare filial devotion.)

Don't Say

• 我很孝顺我的朋友 — 孝顺 is specifically directed at parents or grandparents; use 尊重 or 关心 for friends and peers

Origin & History

孝 (filial piety) + 顺 (to comply/obey) — to revere and obey one's parents

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal