Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of old and child. Child supporting elderly.
Symbolism
Filial piety, obedience. Represents love for parents.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents love and service to parents, foundation of family morality in Confucian values. Spiritual pillar of Japanese society.
Component Breakdown
耂 + child
Words & Expressions
Words written with 孝
Four-Character Compounds
忠孝両全
ちゅうこうりょうぜん
being a good son and a loyal subject; possessing loyalty and filial piety
Proverbs & Idioms
孝は百行の本
こうはひゃっこうのもと
Filial piety is the root of all virtues
Respecting parents is the foundation of morality
Related Figures & Stories
孝明天皇
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Emperor Kōmei , personal name Osahito, was the 121st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
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Kido Takayoshi ; August 11, 1833 – May 26, 1877), formerly known as Katsura Kogorō , was a Japanese statesman, samurai and shishi who is considered…
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Name contains 孝
Oda Nobutaka was a samurai and member of the Oda clan.
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Kuroda Yoshitaka , also known as Kuroda Kanbei , was a Japanese samurai and daimyō of the late Sengoku through the early Edo period.
WikipediaFrequently Asked Questions
What does 孝 mean in Japanese?
孝 means filial piety, child's respect.
How do you read 孝?
On'yomi: コウ、キョウ (KOU, KYOU).
How many strokes does 孝 have?
孝 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 子 (child).
Is 孝 a good kanji for a tattoo?
孝 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means filial piety, child's respect. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.