This saying advises that when your parents are still living, you should not move far away from them, because you have a duty to care for them in their old age. It's a filial obligation to be nearby and available.
Filial piety (孝) is the cornerstone of Confucian ethics. In traditional China, children were expected to support and care for their parents, and living far away was seen as abandoning that duty.
This saying reinforces the moral weight of family responsibility. It signals that personal ambition should be balanced with duty to one's elders, and it serves as a reminder that family bonds are the ultimate safety net in Chinese society.
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