also: ふきょう
undutifulness to parents; lack of filial piety
Refers to failing in one's duty to respect and care for one's parents; a traditional Confucian concept still used in modern Japanese.
親を大切にしないのは不孝だ。
Not taking good care of one's parents is unfilial.
He is called an unfilial person by his relatives.
(archaic crime of) cursing one's parents
Only with reading ふきょう
Archaic legal term from the 八虐 (eight unpardonable crimes) system; specifically cursing or verbally abusing one's parents. Restricted to the reading ふきょう.
See also: 八虐
八虐の一つに「不孝」があり、親をののしる罪とされた。
Among the eight unpardonable crimes was 'fukyō,' the crime of cursing one's parents.
(archaic) disowning one's child
Only with reading ふきょう
Archaic legal term for a parent formally disowning a child. Restricted to the reading ふきょう.
古い法律では、親が子を不孝として勘当することがあった。
Under old laws, a parent could disown a child as 'fukyō.'
For years he has been undutiful toward his parents.
His relatives called him an unfilial son.
The son apologized to his ailing father for his lack of filial devotion.