to be in mourning for one's deceased parents
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to be in mourning for one's deceased parents (archaic, bureaucratic)
literaryA classical and bureaucratic term from Imperial China, indicating the filial duty of mourning and resigning from official posts. Not used in modern spoken Chinese.
Àn按
zhào照
jiù旧
zhì制
，
guān官
yuán员
bì必
xū须
dīng丁
yōu忧
sān三
nián年
，
qī期
jiān间
bù不
néng能
dān担
rèn任
guān官
zhí职
。
According to the old system, officials had to observe mourning for three years and could not hold office during that time.
Tā他
yīn因
dīng丁
yōu忧
zài在
jiā家
，
cuò错
guò过
le了
cǐ此
cì次
kē科
jǔ举
。
Because he was in mourning at home, he missed this round of the imperial examinations.
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Gǔ古
dài代
dīng丁
yōu忧
de的
zhì制
dù度
tǐ体
xiàn现
le了
rú儒
jiā家
de的
xiào孝
dào道
wén文
huà化
。
The ancient system of mourning reflected the Confucian culture of filial piety.