扫墓

sǎo mù

HSK 7–9

Meaning

to sweep a grave (and pay one's respects to the dead person)

Definition

在墓地举行祭奠活动，如清除杂草、摆放供品、烧纸钱等，以表达对逝者的怀念和敬意。

To perform rituals at a grave site, such as clearing weeds, offering sacrifices, and burning incense paper, to express remembrance and respect for the deceased.

Usage

常用于清明节期间，也适用于其他祭祀场合，是中国人重要的传统习俗之一。

Commonly used during the Qingming Festival and other memorial occasions; it is one of the important traditional customs in China.

Examples

1 清明节那天，我们全家一起去乡下扫墓。 (On Qingming Festival, our whole family went to the countryside to sweep the tombs.)
2 每年这个时候，人们都会带着鲜花和食物去扫墓。 (Every year at this time, people bring flowers and food to visit the graves.)
3 扫墓时，我们要先清理墓地周围的杂草。 (When sweeping the tomb, we first clear the weeds around the grave.)
4 很多华人即使在国外也会在清明时节扫墓。 (Many Chinese people abroad also visit graves during Qingming.)
5 扫墓不仅是为了纪念祖先，也是家人团聚的机会。 (Sweeping tombs is not only to remember ancestors but also an opportunity for family reunion.)

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