Japanese Conversation · Level 15
90 words
Japanese word
死ぬ
Pronunciation
Romajishinu
Meaning
- verbdie
Example
猫が死にました。neko ga shi ni ma shi ta
The cat died.
More examples
植物は水がなければ死にます。shoku butsu wa mizu ga na ke re ba shi ni ma su
Plants die without water.
Core concept
Expresses the change from being alive to being no longer alive.
Common phrases
死にそうshi ni sō
be about to die
死んでいるshi n de i ru
be dead
死んでしまうshi n de shi ma u
end up dying
Similar words
亡くなるnakunaru: To die, expressed in a gentle and respectful way, especially for a person.
Definition in Japanese
生きているものが生命を失う。i ki te i ru mo no ga sei mei o ushina u
Word origin
死ぬ (shinu, "to die") is a native Japanese verb; older Japanese records show the same basic verb, while its ultimate origin is uncertain.
Usage tips
- The direct verb 死ぬ (shinu) is commonly used for animals, while 亡くなる (nakunaru) is often chosen as a gentler expression for people.
Opposites
- 生きるikiruliveverb
Related words
- 死に方shinikataway of dyingnoun