谨终追远 Honoring ancestors
Explanation
指慎重地办理父母丧事，虔诚地祭祀远代祖先。体现了中华民族孝敬长辈、慎终追远的美德。
It refers to carefully handling the funeral arrangements for parents and devoutly worshipping distant ancestors. It reflects the virtues of the Chinese nation of respecting elders and honoring their ancestors.
Origin Story
老李家世代居住在江南水乡，家风淳朴，历来注重孝道。每逢清明，老李都会带着家人，前往祖坟祭扫，缅怀先祖的功德。他不仅认真准备祭品，还细致地清理墓地，并向家人讲述祖先的故事，教育后辈要继承优良家风，做一个对社会有用的人。他还经常翻阅家谱，追溯家族历史，了解祖先的奋斗历程，以此激励自己和家人更加努力地生活。老李的这种谨终追远的行为，不仅传承了中华民族的优良传统，也使得老李家族更加团结和睦，代代相传。
The Li family has lived in the quiet Jiangnan water towns for generations. Their family tradition has always been simple, and they have always valued filial piety and honoring their ancestors. Every Qingming Festival, Old Li would take his family to the ancestral graves to pay respects and remember the contributions of their ancestors. He not only carefully prepared offerings but also meticulously cleaned the graves. He would tell his family stories of their ancestors, educating his descendants to inherit the fine family traditions and become useful members of society. He also frequently reviewed the family genealogy, tracing the family history, learning about the struggles of his ancestors, thereby inspiring himself and his family to work harder. Old Li's actions of respecting his ancestors have not only inherited the fine traditions of the Chinese nation, but have also made the Li family more united and harmonious, passing down through the generations.
Usage
用于表达对祖先的缅怀和敬重，多用于祭祀、扫墓等场合。
Used to express remembrance and respect for ancestors, often used in sacrificial ceremonies and tomb sweeping.
Examples
-
每逢清明，人们都要谨终追远，祭奠祖先。
měiféng qīngmíng, rénmen dōu yào jǐn zhōng zhuī yuǎn, jìdiàn zǔxiān
Every Tomb-Sweeping Day, people remember and honor their ancestors.
-
他谨终追远，为父母守孝三年。
tā jǐn zhōng zhuī yuǎn, wèi fùmǔ shǒuxiào sān nián
He mourned his parents for three years to honor their memory and show filial piety.