spiritual fetters of wifely submission and virtue imposed on women in feudal society; 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
三从：指女子未嫁从父，已嫁从夫，夫死从子。四德：指妇德、妇言、妇容、妇功（即品德、辞令、仪态、女工）。泛指封建礼教压迫、束缚妇女的道德规范。
联合式；作主语、宾语；含贬义
封建礼教束缚妇女的道德标准之一。
《仪礼·丧服·子夏传》：“妇人有三从之义，无专用之道。故未嫁从父，既嫁从夫，夫死从子。”《周礼·天官》：“九嫔掌妇学之法，以九教御：妇德、妇言、妇容、妇功。”
从来不出闺门里，羞答答怎便将男儿细窥，则我这三从四德幼闲习，既嫁鸡须逐他鸡。 ◎元·无名氏《隔江斗智》第三折