死亡

• Pinyin: sǐ wáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 死 = death; 亡 = to perish — death (formal compound)

Meaning

Death; to die. The end of life; the state of being dead.

A formal and neutral term for death, commonly used in medical, legal, news, and academic contexts. Related terms: 死亡率 (mortality rate), 死亡人数 (death toll), 死亡证明 (death certificate), 宣布死亡 (to pronounce dead). More formal than 死 alone, and less euphemistic than 去世 (passed away) or 过世.

Examples

1. 这场事故造成了多人死亡，令人痛心。 This accident caused multiple deaths, which is heartbreaking.
2. 医学的进步大大降低了婴儿死亡率。 Advances in medicine have greatly reduced infant mortality rates.
3. 他对死亡有着坦然的态度。 He has a calm attitude toward death.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, legal, news, academic

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 死亡原因正在调查中。(The cause of death is under investigation.)
• 这种疾病的死亡率很低。(The mortality rate of this disease is very low.)

Don't Say

• 谈论亲人时用'死亡'可能显得冷淡 (Using 死亡 when discussing loved ones may seem cold — use 去世 or 过世 instead)

Origin & History

Compound of 死 (to die, dead) + 亡 (to perish, to lose). Both characters relate to death, forming an emphatic compound.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal