服丧 (fú sāng) — to be in mourning, to observe the mourning period (for a deceased family member)

Definition

A formal verb meaning to observe the mourning period for a deceased family member, tied to traditional Chinese ritual custom. It is more formal and specific than everyday 哀悼, which simply means to mourn or grieve.

verb
to be in mourningto observe the mourning period (for a deceased family member)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，服丧。
    Tā fù qīn qù shì hòu, tā fú sāng le sān nián.
    After his father passed away, he observed mourning for three years.
  • 。
    Tā wèi zǔ fù fú le yì nián sàng.
    He observed mourning for his grandfather for one year.
  • ，服丧。
    Zài gǔ dài, zǐ nǚ bì xū wèi fù mǔ fú sāng.
    In ancient times, children had to observe mourning for their parents.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

服fúobserve or wear
丧sàngmourning

服 means observe or wear and 丧 means mourning; together they mean observing mourning.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
凡凡fántray
Sound part声符shēngfú
𠬝
𠬝𠬝服fú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 服, the part 𠬝 was the original picture for 'to subdue'; the added left part 凡, a tray, later changed shape.

Open 服 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 喪; 丧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㗊㗊㗊many mouths
Sound part声符shēngfú
桑
桑sāng喪sàng
Same sound today

The traditional form 喪 originally paired 桑 (mulberry tree) with 㗊 (many mouths). The simplified 丧 is the modern form, deriving from a form that used 哭 (cry) and 亡 (die).

Open 丧 →

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