# 三从四德

sān cóng sì dé

Traditional rules imposing obedience and prescribed virtues on women

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Three obediences and four virtues

**Traditional Chinese:** 三從四德

**Register:** Formal · literary

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Recognize historical expectations of women’s conduct.

Describes a restrictive historical norm, not modern advice.

## Understanding the expression

The expression names a traditional framework that required a woman to obey male relatives at successive stages of life and cultivate prescribed virtues. It often appears in historical discussion or criticism of restrictive gender roles. The phrase describes a social ideal imposed on women rather than a neutral measure of personal goodness. Modern examples can show characters accepting or resisting it, making clear whose expectations are operating instead of presenting obedience as an obligation for everyone.

## Examples

她拒绝按三从四德生活。

### Traditional Chinese

她拒絕按三從四德生活。

tā jù jué àn sān cóng sì dé shēng huó 。

She refused to live according to those traditional rules for women.

旧宅的族规要求女子遵守三从四德。

### Traditional Chinese

舊宅的族規要求女子遵守三從四德。

jiù zhái de zú guī yāo qiú nǚ zǐ zūn shǒu sān cóng sì dé 。

The ancestral household’s rules required women to follow the traditional obediences and virtues.

小说女主角反抗三从四德的束缚。

### Traditional Chinese

小說女主角反抗三從四德的束縛。

xiǎo shuō nǚ zhǔ jué fǎn kàng sān cóng sì dé de shù fù 。

The novel’s heroine resists the restrictions of traditional female obedience.

祖母不再用三从四德要求孙女。

### Traditional Chinese

祖母不再用三從四德要求孫女。

zǔ mǔ bú zài yòng sān cóng sì dé yāo qiú sūn nǚ 。

Grandma no longer imposes those traditional rules on her granddaughter.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E4%B8%89%E5%BE%9E%E5%9B%9B%E5%BE%B7)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=971&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [三姑六婆 sān gū liù pó A disparaging label for gossiping or meddlesome women ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-gu-liu-po)

- [三顾茅庐 sān gù máo lú Make repeated sincere invitations ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-gu-mao-lu)

- [三缄其口 sān jiān qí kǒu Remain deliberately tight-lipped ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-jian-qi-kou)

- [三教九流 sān jiào jiǔ liú People from many walks of life ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-jiao-jiu-liu)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 塞翁失马 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/sai-weng-shi-ma) [Next idiom 三姑六婆 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/san-gu-liu-po)