(xiào)

HSK 7-97 strokes

filial piety or obedience

Stroke order animation

Character information

Pinyin
xiào
Meaning
filial piety or obedience; mourning apparel
Strokes
7
HSK level
HSK 7-9
Traditional
Same

Origin & structure

Where comes from and how its parts fit together.

Ideograph⿸耂子

A young man 子 carrying an older man 耂

A combination of parts whose meanings add up to the whole.

Made of

Parts are arranged enclosing from the upper left.

How to write step by step

7 strokes — each frame adds one stroke, shown in dark ink over the lighter ones.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7

Words with

Common words using — tap any character to open its stroke-order page.

xiàojìng
HSK 7-9

to show filial respect

Open 孝敬 page →
xiàoshùn
HSK 7-9

filial

Open 孝顺 page →
xiàonán

see 孝南区

Open 孝南 page →
xiào

filial son

Open 孝子 page →

see 父慈子孝[fu4 ci2 zi3 xiao4]

Open 子孝父慈 page →
xiàolián

xiaolian, two examination subjects in Han, later a single subject in Ming and Qing

Open 孝廉 page →
xiàoxīn

filial piety (a Confucian obligation)

Open 孝心 page →

Related characters

Ready to master 孝?

Trace 孝 stroke by stroke in the online practice tool, or turn it into a printable worksheet PDF with Tianzige practice grids, pinyin, and stroke-order breakdowns.