expression, godan verb (-bu)
commit suicide; end one's life; choose death
A literary or euphemistic expression for suicide, emphasizing the act as a deliberate choice. The literal gloss 'choose death' reflects the kanji meaning.
彼は絶望の末、死を選んだ。
In the end, he chose death out of despair.
その作家
That writer chose to end his life at a young age.