扫墓

• Pinyin: sǎo mù
• Hanzi breakdown: 扫 = 扌(hand) + 帚 (broom) = to sweep, to clean; 墓 = 艹 (grass) + 日 (sun) + 大 (big) + 土 (earth/ground) = earthen grave mound

Meaning

To sweep/tend a grave; to visit and pay respects at an ancestral tomb, typically by cleaning the site and offering tribute.

A deep-rooted Chinese cultural tradition, most formally observed during the Qingming Festival (清明节) in early April. Families travel to the graves of deceased relatives, clear away weeds and debris, offer food and flowers, burn paper money and incense, and bow in remembrance. The practice embodies filial piety (孝道) and the veneration of ancestors.

Examples

1. 清明节临近，他请假回乡与家人一同前往山上的祖坟扫墓，延续这份对先人的追思与敬意。 As Qingming approached, he took time off to go back to his hometown and visit the family graves in the mountains with his relatives, carrying on the tradition of remembrance and respect for their ancestors.
2. 现代都市生活节奏加快，不少年轻人选择在清明假期结束后利用周末补行扫墓，以表达对逝去亲人的哀思。 With the pace of modern city life speeding up, many young people choose to make up their Qingming grave visit on a weekend after the holiday ends, to express their grief for departed loved ones.
3. 她站在父亲的墓前，静静地清除了墓碑上的苔藓和落叶，随后点燃了三炷香，默默诉说着这一年来的生活点滴。 She stood before her father’s grave, quietly cleared the moss and fallen leaves from the headstone, then lit three sticks of incense and silently spoke about the details of her life over the past year.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, family, religion, tradition

Tone: solemn to reverent

Do Say

• 每逢清明，无论身在何处，他都会尽力赶回老家扫墓，这是他对父母许下的承诺，也是对家族传统最真实的坚守。(Every Qingming, no matter where he is, he does his best to return home to sweep the graves — a promise he made to his parents and his most genuine adherence to family tradition.)
• 这家公司专门提供代客扫墓服务，为无法亲自前往的异地客户进行祭扫，并拍摄照片发送给委托人以告慰其思念之情。(This company specialises in grave-sweeping services on behalf of clients, performing the rites for out-of-town customers who cannot attend in person, and sending photographs to the client to comfort their longing.)

Don't Say

• 他扫墓了一下 — 扫墓 is a ritual act, not a brief casual action; avoid pairing it with 一下; use 去扫墓 or 前往扫墓 instead

Origin & History

扫 = 扌(hand) + 帚 (broom) = to sweep/clean; 墓 = 艹 (grass) + 日 (sun) + 大 (big) + 土 (earth) = grave mound — to sweep and tend the grave

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal