filial piety

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

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

First recorded in 1610–20

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.

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.

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