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扫墓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
扫墓sǎomùto sweep the tombs (of one's ancestors)HSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #33379, Very Hard
扫墓sǎomùthe Qingming festivalHSK 7, unknown, 19 strokes, rank #33379, Very Hard
sǎomù(sao3mu4)sao mu T3
  1. 1to sweep the tombs (of one's ancestors)
  2. 2the Qingming festival
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March 24, 2026

扫墓(掃墓)sǎomù(sao3mu4)

扫墓 refers to the practice of visiting and cleaning the graves of one's ancestors, particularly during the Qingming Festival. This act is a way to show respect and remembrance for the deceased, involving activities such as sweeping the tomb, offering food, and burning incense.

Strokes19Frequency#33379DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

扫墓 is a deeply rooted tradition in China, particularly during the Qingming Festival, where families honor their ancestors by maintaining their graves and celebrating their memories. It reflects the importance of filial piety in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine you are 'sweeping' away the dust on a tombstone during the Qingming Festival, while the 'mu' sounds like 'moo,' which you might associate with a peaceful landscape where cows graze near the graves. The visual of cleaning and the sound of 'moo' can help you remember 扫墓.

Meanings of 扫墓

sǎomù(sao3mu4)
1to sweep the tombs (of one's ancestors)
2the Qingming festival
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About 扫墓

扫墓Simplified
掃墓Traditional
19Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2

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Podcast: 扫墓

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AI study notes for 扫墓

Usage Notes

This term is often used in a formal context related to ancestral respect and cultural traditions. A common mistake is to use it casually, as it carries significant emotional weight; thus, it’s best reserved for serious discussions about family heritage or festivals. Be careful with the tones: 扫 (sǎo) is third tone, and 墓 (mù) is fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 扫墓 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to cultural topics often discussed at higher HSK levels. Students should focus on understanding the significance of Qingming and the cultural practices surrounding it, possibly linking it with words related to family and heritage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 扫墓 with similar terms like 掃除 (sǎochú), which means to clean in a general sense. For example, saying '我去扫墓每周' (I sweep tombs every week) implies a casual attitude; instead, use '我在清明节扫墓' (I sweep tombs during Qingming Festival) for proper context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 扫墓

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Component characters

扫sǎoto sweep
HSK 36 strokes扌
View full entry
墓mùgrave
HSK 713 strokes土
View full entry

How to say to sweep the tombs (of one's ancestors) in Chinese

“to sweep the tombs (of one's ancestors)” in Chinese is扫墓sǎomù

扫墓 refers to the practice of visiting and cleaning the graves of one's ancestors, particularly during the Qingming Festival. This act is a way to show respect and remembrance for the deceased, involving activities such as sweeping the tomb, offering food, and burning incense.

When to use 扫墓

This term is often used in a formal context related to ancestral respect and cultural traditions. A common mistake is to use it casually, as it carries significant emotional weight; thus, it’s best reserved for serious discussions about family heritage or festivals. Be careful with the tones: 扫 (sǎo) is third tone, and 墓 (mù) is fourth tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 扫墓 with similar terms like 掃除 (sǎochú), which means to clean in a general sense. For example, saying '我去扫墓每周' (I sweep tombs every week) implies a casual attitude; instead, use '我在清明节扫墓' (I sweep tombs during Qingming Festival) for proper context.

Write 扫墓

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墓

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Frequently asked questions about 扫墓

扫墓 is significant as it represents respect for one's ancestors and the continuation of family ties.

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