Translation guide
How to express that someone has died, with sensitivity to politeness, formality, and the relationship to the deceased.
祖父が亡くなりました。
My grandfather passed away.
To say that someone has died in a neutral, factual way.
The most common and neutral way to say 'pass away'. Used for anyone, polite enough for most situations.
祖父が昨晩亡くなりました。
My grandfather passed away last night.
彼女は若くして亡くなった。
She passed away at a young age.
The direct word for 'die'. Can sound blunt or insensitive when referring to people, especially in polite contexts. Use with caution.
Avoid using 死ぬ directly about someone's family member or in formal condolences; it can sound harsh.
彼は事故で死んだ。
He died in an accident.
To speak respectfully about someone's passing, often when referring to someone else's family member or in formal settings.
Honorific form of 亡くなる. Used to show respect to the deceased or their family.
お父様がお亡くなりになったと伺いました。
I heard that your father passed away.
Formal, respectful term often used in obituaries or official announcements.
著名な作家が逝去されました。
A renowned author has passed away.
Literally 'to depart this world'. Somewhat formal and literary.
祖母は安らかに他界しました。
My grandmother passed away peacefully.
To refer to death indirectly, often to soften the impact or in casual conversation.
Literally 'to take one's last breath'. A common euphemism.
彼は家族に見守られながら息を引き取りました。
He passed away surrounded by his family.
Literally 'to leave this world'. Poetic and gentle.
彼は静かにこの世を去った。
He quietly left this world.
Literally 'to sleep eternally'. Used in obituaries or formal announcements.
彼女は昨夜永眠いたしました。
She passed away last night (eternal sleep).
To humbly refer to the death of one's own family member when speaking to others.
Using 亡くなる is already neutral and appropriate. No special humble verb is needed, but using humble forms for actions related to the deceased can show respect.
先月、父が亡くなりました。
My father passed away last month.
While the death itself is expressed neutrally, you can use humble verbs for your own actions related to the death, e.g., 申す (to say), いたす (to do).
父が亡くなりまして、葬儀は家族のみで執り行いました。
My father passed away, and we held the funeral with only family.
The verb 死ぬ (shinu) is direct and can be perceived as crude or insensitive when talking about someone's death, especially in formal situations or when offering condolences. Use 亡くなる instead.
お母様が亡くなられたと聞いて、心からお悔やみ申し上げます。
I heard your mother passed away, please accept my deepest condolences.
亡くなる is the standard, polite way to say 'pass away'. 死ぬ is the plain verb 'to die', used for animals, in news reports, or casual talk, but can be too blunt for personal human death.