| 不孝有三，无后为大 |
bù xiào yǒu sān , wú hòu wéi dà |
there are three ways to be unfilial; having no sons is the worst (from Mencius 孟子) |
| 不 |
bù |
no; not so / (bound form) not; un- |
| 不孝 |
bù xiào |
unfilial |
| 孝 |
xiào |
filial piety or obedience / mourning apparel |
| 有 |
yǒu |
to have; there is / (bound form) having; with; -ful; -ed; -al (as in 有意 intentional) |
| 三 |
Sān |
surname San |
| 三 |
sān |
three / 3 |
| 无 |
mó |
used in 南无 |
| 无 |
wú |
not to have / no / none / not / to lack / un- / -less |
| 无后 |
wú hòu |
(literary) to have no descendants; to have no son to continue one's lineage |
| 后 |
Hòu |
surname Hou |
| 后 |
hòu |
empress / queen / (archaic) monarch / ruler |
| 后 |
hòu |
back / behind / rear / afterwards / after / later / post- |
| 为 |
wéi |
as (in the capacity of) / to take sth as / to act as / to serve as / to behave as / to become / to be / to do / by (in the passive voice) |
| 为 |
wèi |
because of / for / to |
| 为 |
wéi |
variant of 为 |
| 为 |
wèi |
variant of 为 |
| 大 |
dà |
big; large; great / older (than another person) / eldest (as in 大姐) / greatly; freely; fully / (dialect) father / (dialect) uncle (father's brother) |
| 大 |
dài |
see 大夫 |