Hyo

Hyo, written in Hangul as 효, is a Korean term associated with filial piety, a central Confucian virtue. The character behind it is 孝, which is read xiào in Mandarin and hyo in Korean. In Chinese and Korean cultures, filial piety refers to respect, care, and duty toward one's parents and ancestors.

In Korean usage, 효 is used as a standalone noun to denote filial piety and appears in many compounds, such as 효도 (filial duty), 효자 (filial son), and 효녀 (filial daughter). The meaning in personal names depends on the hanja chosen; 孝 is a common option used to convey the virtue of filial piety.

Within Korean society, the concept has historically shaped family obligations and elder care, though contemporary norms vary. In literature and philosophy, the idea is discussed in moral treatises and cultural works; in modern contexts it is often framed in terms of respect, family responsibility, and intergenerational care rather than rigid expectation.

See also: filial piety; Xiao; Korean names; Hanja; Chinese culture.