<h3>TL;DR</h3>

<p>The most general euphemism for "die" in Chinese is</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>去世</p>
  
  <p>Literally means "leave the world". Similar to the English expression "pass on/away".</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It would be polite enough to address anyone's death and is commonly used in speaking and writing. So if you don't know which word is the best, just use this one – in only a few cases would it sound unsuitable (even though it won't sound impolite), e.g.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>When using euphemism is absurd. For example, it's weird to say</p>

<pre><code>(Awful!) 这个专门杀男孩的杀手终于去世了。
(Awful!) Finally, the serial killer who aims at boys has passed away.
</code></pre>

<p>As you wouldn't say that in English, don't try it in Chinese.</p></li>
<li><p>When addressing children's death. Chinese consider 去世 is too solemn for children, and in formal writing we use <code>夭折</code>. In conversations, personally I <strong><em>might</em></strong> (I hope there's no chance for me) say <code>离开了我们</code> (has left us).</p></li>
</ol>

<h3>A Longer List</h3>

<ol>
<li><p>General (for grown-ups)</p>

<blockquote>
  <ul>
  <li>(leave the world; leave forever) 去世/过世/离世/谢世/辞世/与世长辞 / [长逝/永逝]</li>
  <li>(sleep forever; rest in peace; say farewell forever) 安息/永眠/长眠/永别</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For children and youths</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>夭折/夭亡/早逝 / [殤/兰摧玉折]</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For young girls</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>香消玉殒/倩女离魂</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For the great</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>逝世/辞世/与世长辞/ [星陨]</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For martyrs</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>牺牲/就义/殉道/殉国/殉难/殉职/壮烈/舍身 [成仁/以身许国/舍生取义/马革裹尸]</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For those who die for illness</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>病故/病逝</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For ancient emperors</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>驾崩/ [大薨/山陵崩/登遐/晏驾]</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For Buddhist monks</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>圆寂/坐化/涅槃 [示寂/示灭/入灭/灭度/示灭]</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For those who die for accidents</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>遇难/罹难/丧身</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For those who normally die at an old age</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>寿终/寿终正寝</p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>For old masters (these phrases are Taoism related)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>驾鹤西去/仙去/仙游/ [登仙/物化/羽化/遁化/迂化/迂神/隐化/解驾]</p>
</blockquote></li>
</ol>

<p><strong><em>Note</em></strong>:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Brackets [ ] denote expressions that would be too formal to be used in conversations.</p></li>
<li><p>This list is far from and is not supposed to be perfect (as expressions are too many). Feel free to improve it :)</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-13T16:18:39.200Z
At last I've got some time to write down an incomplete list XD It's a community wiki answer so anyone who wants to improve it is welcomed!
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-13T15:50:03.450Z
2016-02-13T16:37:26.007Z
2016-02-13T16:37:26.007Z
Stan
<p>Some people in the US normally avoid saying a person has "died."  They say the person "passed on," or "has left us."  Are there similar, gentle ways in Chinese to avoid saying a person died?  Would it generally seem rude among friends to just say that someone has died? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-13T03:21:48.133Z
There're a lot and they're kind of similar to English. To name a few, "Died" = 死, "passed on" = 走了(very implicit, should be used within some context), 过世了/去世了 (commonly used), "has left us" = 离我们而去了. For old masters, may also say 驾鹤西去了. It's not rude to just say someone "has died" among friends unless the dead you're talking about is close to anybody present (e.g. friend or relative of somebody present).
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-13T05:23:26.030Z
@Stan  Why don't you write this as an answer? It's very comprehensive. The only other expression I can think of to add to the list is 離開了。
monalisa
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-13T05:57:37.797Z
@monalisa Because I'm waiting for a comprehensive list too and currently I don't have time to summarize one :) For example, there're some euphemisms for specific people: for Buddhist monks, 圆寂, for emperors, 驾崩, etc.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-13T06:58:00.747Z
Is there any translation of the Monty Python's parrot skit? :)
Olle Linge
<vocabulary><politeness>
Politeness in referring to a recent death
# Politeness in referring to a recent death

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-13)

Some people in the US normally avoid saying a person has "died." They say the person "passed on," or "has left us." Are there similar, gentle ways in Chinese to avoid saying a person died? Would it generally seem rude among friends to just say that someone has died?

**Tags:** vocabulary, politeness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: There're a lot and they're kind of similar to English. To name a few, "Died" = 死, "passed on" = 走了(very implicit, should be used within some context), 过世了/去世了 (commonly used), "has left us" = 离我们而去了. For old masters, may also say 驾鹤西去了. It's not rude to just say someone "has died" among friends unless the dead you're talking about is close to anybody present (e.g. friend or relative of somebody present).  
> **username_2**: @username_1  Why don't you write this as an answer? It's very comprehensive. The only other expression I can think of to add to the list is 離開了。  
> **username_1**: @username_2 Because I'm waiting for a comprehensive list too and currently I don't have time to summarize one :) For example, there're some euphemisms for specific people: for Buddhist monks, 圆寂, for emperors, 驾崩, etc.  
> **username_3**: Is there any translation of the Monty Python's parrot skit? :)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-02-13. Score: 11 | Accepted answer

TL;DR
The most general euphemism for "die" in Chinese is

去世
Literally means "leave the world". Similar to the English expression "pass on/away".

It would be polite enough to address anyone's death and is commonly used in speaking and writing. So if you don't know which word is the best, just use this one – in only a few cases would it sound unsuitable (even though it won't sound impolite), e.g.

When using euphemism is absurd. For example, it's weird to say
(Awful!) 这个专门杀男孩的杀手终于去世了。
(Awful!) Finally, the serial killer who aims at boys has passed away.

As you wouldn't say that in English, don't try it in Chinese.
When addressing children's death. Chinese consider 去世 is too solemn for children, and in formal writing we use 夭折. In conversations, personally I might (I hope there's no chance for me) say 离开了我们 (has left us).

A Longer List

General (for grown-ups)


(leave the world; leave forever) 去世/过世/离世/谢世/辞世/与世长辞 / [长逝/永逝]
(sleep forever; rest in peace; say farewell forever) 安息/永眠/长眠/永别


For children and youths

夭折/夭亡/早逝 / [殤/兰摧玉折]

For young girls

香消玉殒/倩女离魂

For the great

逝世/辞世/与世长辞/ [星陨]

For martyrs

牺牲/就义/殉道/殉国/殉难/殉职/壮烈/舍身 [成仁/以身许国/舍生取义/马革裹尸]

For those who die for illness

病故/病逝

For ancient emperors

驾崩/ [大薨/山陵崩/登遐/晏驾]

For Buddhist monks

圆寂/坐化/涅槃 [示寂/示灭/入灭/灭度/示灭]

For those who die for accidents

遇难/罹难/丧身

For those who normally die at an old age

寿终/寿终正寝

For old masters (these phrases are Taoism related)

驾鹤西去/仙去/仙游/ [登仙/物化/羽化/遁化/迂化/迂神/隐化/解驾]


Note:

Brackets [ ] denote expressions that would be too formal to be used in conversations.
This list is far from and is not supposed to be perfect (as expressions are too many). Feel free to improve it :)

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: At last I've got some time to write down an incomplete list XD It's a community wiki answer so anyone who wants to improve it is welcomed!  

---

