filial piety: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal
Quick answer
What does “filial piety” mean?
Respect for, obedience to, and care for one's parents and elderly family members.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Respect for, obedience to, and care for one's parents and elderly family members.
A virtue in many cultures, particularly Confucian societies, emphasizing the moral obligation and duty of children to support and honour their parents and ancestors, often extending to a hierarchical respect for elders in general.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant orthographic or grammatical differences. The term is equally specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries strong connotations of East Asian (especially Chinese, Korean, Japanese) cultural and philosophical traditions. May sound academic or technical to general audiences.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language, but standard and common in academic fields like anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and religious studies.
Grammar
How to Use “filial piety” in a Sentence
show ~ (towards sb)practise ~a sense of ~the ~ of sbVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “filial piety” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Children are expected to filially respect their elders.
- (Note: 'filially' is extremely rare)
American English
- He acted filially by caring for his ageing mother. (Formal/Literary)
adverb
British English
- He obeyed his parents filially. (Very formal/Literary)
American English
- They served filially without complaint. (Very formal/Literary)
adjective
British English
- His filial duties were clear to him.
American English
- She demonstrated filial respect throughout her life.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in cross-cultural training or discussions of work-family balance in specific cultures.
Academic
Common in anthropology, sociology, philosophy, religious studies, and Asian studies.
Everyday
Very rare. Likely only used when directly discussing related cultural concepts.
Technical
Standard term within the fields mentioned.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “filial piety”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “filial piety”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “filial piety”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a filial piety').
- Confusing 'filial' (relating to children) with 'paternal' (relating to father) or 'maternal' (relating to mother).
- Misspelling as 'filial *piet*y'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it is most famously developed in Confucian philosophy (influencing China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam etc.), similar concepts of respect and duty towards parents exist in many cultures worldwide, though the specific term and philosophical framing are East Asian.
Yes, in its modern interpretation it applies to all children. Historically, in some patriarchal interpretations, greater emphasis was placed on the duties of sons, but the core concept is universally filial.
No. 'Filial piety' is generally used as an uncountable abstract noun (like 'honour' or 'respect'). You do not use an indefinite article with it.
The direct opposite is 'filial impiety'. More common descriptions would be 'disrespect for one's parents', 'rebellion against parents', or 'neglect of parental duties'.
Respect for, obedience to, and care for one's parents and elderly family members.
Filial piety is usually formal in register.
Filial piety: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪl.i.əl ˈpaɪ.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪl.i.əl ˈpaɪ.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly equivalent. Related: 'Honour thy father and mother.'”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a loyal puppy (filial relates to 'offspring') showing great respect and care for its older pack leaders.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHILDREN ARE SERVANTS/DUTY-BOUND SUBJECTS TO PARENTS AS RULERS. (The parent-child relationship is structured hierarchically like a monarch-subject relationship.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes 'filial piety'?