◎古代中国妇女应有的品德。三从是未嫁从父、既嫁从夫、夫死从子，四德是妇德、妇言、妇容、妇功(妇女的品德、辞令、仪态、女工)
英the three obediences obey her father before marriage, her husband when married, and her sons in widowhood and the four virtues (morality, proper speech, modest manner and diligent work) of women in ancient China; spiritual fetters of wifely submission and virtue imposed on women in feudal society;
◎三从指在家从父、出嫁从夫、夫死从子。四德指妇德、妇言、妇容、妇功。三从四德指旧时社会妇女所应具备的德性。元 · 关汉卿也作“四德三从”。
引《救风尘 · 第一折》：“待装个老实学三从四德，争奈是匪妓都三心二意，端的是哪里是三梢末尾？”《红楼梦 · 第四七回》：“我听见你替你老爷说媒来了。你倒也三从四德的，只是这贤惠也太过了。”
