尸体

• Pinyin: shī tǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 尸 = 一 + 人 (pictograph of a recumbent body; corpse); 体 = 亻+ 本 (body, physical form)

Meaning

A corpse; a dead body — the physical remains of a person or animal after death.

The standard, neutral term for a dead body in Chinese. Used in medical, legal, forensic, and journalistic contexts. 遗体 is a more respectful term when referring to a deceased person with dignity (often for public figures or loved ones); 尸体 is reserved for clinical or criminal contexts. Collocations: 发现尸体 (discover a body), 辨认尸体 (identify a body), 尸体解剖 (autopsy, post-mortem).

Examples

1. 法医在案发现场的河床附近发现了一具尸体，初步检验显示死亡时间距今约四十八小时。 A forensic examiner found a body near the riverbed at the crime scene; a preliminary examination indicated the time of death was about forty-eight hours ago.
2. 考古队在古墓中发现了保存较为完好的尸体，经科学检测确认其生活年代距今约两千年。 The archaeological team discovered a relatively well-preserved body in an ancient tomb; scientific testing confirmed it dates back about two thousand years.
3. 这起事故导致的所有遇难者尸体已陆续被发现并移交家属，相关部门正全力协助安置善后工作。 All the victims’ bodies from the accident have been found one after another and returned to their families, and the relevant departments are doing everything they can to assist with resettlement and follow-up arrangements.

Usage Guide

Context: forensics, medicine, law, journalism, archaeology

Tone: clinical

Do Say

• 检察官在庭审中提交了法医对尸体的完整检验报告，从多个维度确认了死亡时间、死亡原因及相关伤情。(The prosecutor submitted to the court the forensic examiner's complete examination report on the body, confirming from multiple angles the time of death, cause of death, and related injuries.)
• 在灾难救援现场，救援队员须对每具发现的尸体进行标记和记录，以确保所有遇难者信息得到准确追踪和归档。(At the disaster rescue scene, rescue workers must mark and record each body discovered to ensure accurate tracking and archiving of all victim information.)

Don't Say

• 尸体 when referring to the deceased in a condolence or memorial context — use 遗体 instead, which carries the respect and dignity appropriate for mourning and commemorating someone who has passed away

Origin & History

尸 (a pictograph of a recumbent corpse) + 体 (body, physical form)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal