死しに水みずを取とる

expression, godan verb (-ru)

wet the lips of a dying person; attend someone's last moments

A traditional Japanese deathbed custom where a close relative moistens the dying person's lips with water. Often used figuratively to mean being present at someone's final moments.

• 祖そ母ぼが亡なくなる前まえに、家か族ぞくみんなで死しに水みずを取とった。

  Before my grandmother passed away, the whole family wet her lips with water.

• 彼かれは最さい愛あいの人ひとの死しに水みずを取とることができなかった。

  He was unable to be at his beloved's side in her final moments.