三纲五常 sān gāng wǔ cháng

DEFINITIONS

  1. three principles and five virtues (idiom)
  2. the three rules (ruler guides subject, father guides son and husband guides wife) and five constant virtues of Confucianism (benevolence 仁, righteousness 義|义, propriety 禮|礼, wisdom 智 and fidelity 信)

CHARACTERS

三 sān
HSK 1
three
纲 gāng
HSK 5
heavy rope, hawser; main points
五 wǔ
HSK 1
five; surname
常 cháng
HSK 2
common, normal, frequent, regular