不孝有三，无后为大 bù xiào yǒu sān ， wú hòu wéi dà

worst unfilial act is to have no child

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. There are three ways to be unfilial; having no sons is the worst. (citation from Mencius 孟子mèng zǐ)

Characters

Character Meaning
不 bù HSK 1
not; no; (negative prefix)
孝 xiào HSK 5
filial piety or obedience; mourning apparel
有 yǒu HSK 1
to have; there is; there are
三 sān HSK 1
three; 3; surname San
无 wú HSK 4
not; no; not to have
后 hòu HSK 1
behind; after; later
为 wéi HSK 2
for; because of; to
大 dà HSK 1
big; large; great