送葬 (sòng zàng) — to take part in a funeral procession, to attend…

Definition

送葬 means to attend or take part in a funeral procession as a mourner — going physically to send off the deceased, not just paying respects.

verb

to take part in a funeral procession, to attend a funeral as a mourner

。
Wǒ men wèi tā sòng guò yí cì zàng.
We attended a funeral for him once.
送葬。
Jīn tiān dà jiā dōu yào qù sòng zàng.
Everyone has to go to the funeral today.
,送葬。
Zàng lǐ shàng, hěn duō rén lái sòng zàng.
Many people came to the funeral procession at the funeral.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

送葬 combines 送 send off with 葬 burial to mean take part in a funeral procession.

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

辶Written in full as辵chuòto walk

Sound part声符shēngfú

灷

灷zhuàn送sòng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

送 combines 辶, the walking radical, with 灷, which supplies the sound; the walking part fits meanings like see off or deliver.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 葬, 死, a dead person, is shown in 茻, grass, to picture burying the dead in grass.