弟子入则孝

弟子入則孝
dìzǐrùzéxiào
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 when at home, the disciple is filial
  2. 2 (fig.) the Confucian first duty: be filial to parents before all else
  3. 3 (lit.) disciple, when-entering (home), then filial

Examples

Chuántǒng jiàoyù jiǎngjiū dìzǐ rù zé xiào, chū zé tì.
Traditional education emphasized 'disciples are filial at home, respectful to elders abroad.'
Jiào háizi yào cóng dìzǐ rù zé xiào kāishǐ, cóng jiā lǐ jiào qǐ.
In teaching children you must start with 'disciples are filial at home' — beginning from within the family.

Tips

history
From 《·》(Analects, Xue'er 1:6): 弟子 (The disciple: at home, be filial; abroad, be respectful to elders; careful and trustworthy; loving all broadly and close to the humane. With any energy left over, then study the texts). Also the opening of 弟子》(Qing-era primer, 1662-1722), which expands the passage into a complete children's conduct manual.
usage
Inseparable from (abroad, be respectful to elders). / here = at home / outside home. = then, in that case. Confucius's sequence: family virtue first, public virtue next, study of texts last. The defining line of traditional Chinese moral education.

Stroke Order

xiào