节哀顺变

1. • restrain one's grief and accept what has happened (expression of condolence)

     idiom

Character by character

• 节(jié)joint
• 哀(āi)Ai (c. 2000 BC), sixth of legendary Flame Emperors 炎帝 yándì descended from Shennong 神农 shénnóng Farmer God, also known as Li 厘 lí
• 顺(shùn)obey
• 变(biàn)change