filial

Filial is an adjective meaning pertaining to a son or daughter or to the relationship between a child and parent. It derives from Latin filius, “son,” and in English it appears in phrases such as “filial duties” or “filial piety.”

Filial piety is a cornerstone of many East Asian ethical systems, especially Confucian tradition. It emphasizes respect for parents and ancestors, obedience to family elders, care for parents in old age, and the priority of family harmony over individual desires. While the core idea is widespread, its expression varies across cultures and historical periods, shifting with modernization and social change.

In law and public policy, the term “filial obligation” or “filial responsibility” describes duties to support one’s parents. Some jurisdictions have or had laws requiring financially dependent adults to assist indigent parents; in others, welfare systems or demographic shifts lessen or replace these duties.

In genetics and biology, “filial generation” is used to label offspring relative to a parental generation. The parental generation is called the P generation, and subsequent offspring generations are designated F1, F2, and so on, with “filial” indicating kinship to the parents.

Overall, “filial” functions as a formal, often academic term for family-related obligations and relationships, especially those linking children to their parents.