KanjiSchool
孝
孝 (readings: こう; Japanese kanji) means “filial piety”. It is a Grade 6 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 6 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 親孝行 (filial devotion).
What does 孝 mean?
| Kanji | 孝 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | filial piety |
| Readings | こう |
| Grade | Grade 6 (Hardest) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 孝
孝 is read こう depending on the word.
Example words with 孝
| Example | 親孝行 (filial devotion) |
|---|
Practice writing 孝 — free
See 孝's stroke order, take a quiz, and add it to your spaced-repetition review. KanjiSchool teaches all 1,026 Kyōiku kanji through real stories and news.
Start free — no credit card →
Updated: 2026-07-14