三从四德

三從四德

sāncóng-sìdé

idiom

Meanings

1 the three obediences and four virtues
2 Confucian moral code historically imposed on women

Characters

to obey, follow

Examples

三从四德是封建社会对妇女的束缚。

Sāncóng-sìdé shì fēngjiàn shèhuì duì fùnǚ de shùfù.

The 'three obediences and four virtues' was the feudal society's shackle on women.

现代女性早已不再遵循三从四德的旧观念。

Xiàndài nǚxìng zǎo yǐ bù zài zūnxún sāncóng-sìdé de jiù guānniàn.

Modern women long ago stopped following the old notion of 'three obediences and four virtues.'

Tips

history

Per 《新华成语词典》, derived from 《仪礼·丧服·子夏传》 — 妇人有三从之义 ('a woman has the duty of three obediences: unmarried, obey her father; married, her husband; widowed, her son') — and 《周礼·天官》 on the four virtues for women: 妇德 (morality), 妇言 (proper speech), 妇容 (proper bearing), 妇功 (skill at needlework). Now used almost exclusively in critique.

Stroke Order

三 sān

从 cóng

四 sì

德 dé