Definition
服丧 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to be in mourning' — specifically, to observe the mourning period after a family member's death, traditionally by wearing mourning clothes and abstaining from certain activities. The verb 服 and the object 丧 can split when inserting duration or measure words: 服了三年丧 ('observed mourning for three years'). You cannot place the deceased person directly after 服丧; instead say 为某人服丧 ('observe mourning for someone').
v.o.
to be in mourningto observe the mourning period (for a deceased family member)
Examples
- ，服丧。Tā fùqīn qùshì hòu, tā fú sāng le sān nián.After his father passed away, he observed mourning for three years.
- 。Tā wèi zǔfù fú le yì nián sāng.He observed mourning for his grandfather for one year.
- ，服丧。Zài gǔdài, zǐnǚ bìxū wèi fùmǔ fú sāng.In ancient times, children had to observe mourning for their parents.
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