奔丧 (bēnsāng) literally means 'to rush' (奔) and 'funeral/mourning' (丧), combining to express the urgent, emotionally charged act of traveling quickly—often over a long distance—to attend a family member’s funeral. It implies deep filial duty, grief, and cultural expectation in Chinese society, where being present for final rites is considered essential respect for the deceased and comfort for grieving relatives.

The word carries strong emotional weight and often suggests hardship: late-night departures, exhausting journeys, or last-minute travel arrangements. While historically associated with returning to one’s ancestral hometown, today it may involve flights or high-speed trains. It is used almost exclusively in serious, somber contexts—not for casual mourning or memorial services held long after death—and typically refers to immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings, spouse, or children).