孔子(こうし)

こうし
noun
Confucius
person
1. Confucius
The Chinese philosopher (551–479 BCE) whose teachings on ethics, governance, and social relationships profoundly influenced East Asian culture. Known in Chinese as Kǒngzǐ. His philosophy, known as Confucianism, shaped Japanese thought on education, family, and social order.
孔子(こうし)は中国(ちゅうごく)の思想家(しそうか)だ。
Confucius is a Chinese philosopher.
孔子(こうし)の教(おし)えは日本(にほん)の文化(ぶんか)にも深(ふか)い影響(えいきょう)を与(あた)えた。
The teachings of Confucius had a deep influence on Japanese culture as well.
「論語(ろんご)」は孔子(こうし)とその弟子(でし)たちの言行(げんこう)を記録(きろく)した書物(しょもつ)である。
The Analects is a text that records the words and deeds of Confucius and his disciples.

The name 孔子(こうし) literally means "Master Kong" (孔(こう) being the family name, 子(し) being an honorific title meaning "master" used for ancient Chinese philosophers). In Chinese, the full name was 孔丘(こうきゅう).

孔子(こうし)'s teachings, compiled by his disciples in the 論語(ろんご) (Analects), emphasize 仁(じん) (benevolence), 義(ぎ) (righteousness), 礼(れい) (propriety), and 孝(こう) (filial piety). These concepts deeply influenced Japanese society through centuries of cultural exchange, shaping values around respect for elders, education, and social harmony.

Common collocations

  • 孔子(こうし)の教(おし)え: the teachings of Confucius
  • 孔子(こうし)の言葉(ことば): words of Confucius
  • 孔子(こうし)廟(びょう): Confucian temple
  • 孔子(こうし)学院(がくいん): Confucius Institute

Related words

  • 儒教(じゅきょう): Confucianism — the philosophical and ethical system based on his teachings
  • 論語(ろんご): the Analects — the primary text recording his teachings
  • 儒学(じゅがく): Confucian studies — the academic study of his philosophy
  • 孟子(もうし): Mencius — another major Confucian philosopher

Related Words

Related: 儒教(じゅきょう) (Confucianism)
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Added 2026.4.29 23:43 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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