亡くなる
§ What 亡くなる means
The Japanese verb 亡くなる (nakunaru) means "to pass away" or "to die." It's a polite and softer way to talk about death, similar to how we use "pass away" in English instead of "die." You'll often hear this word in various situations where people are talking about someone's passing, especially when they want to show respect or express condolences.
- Japanese Word
- 亡くなる (なくなる)
- Meaning
- To pass away; to die
- CEFR Level
- A2
§ Hearing 亡くなる at work
In a professional setting, you might hear or use 亡くなる when offering condolences or discussing the passing of a colleague's family member or a prominent figure related to your industry. It's crucial to use respectful language in such situations. You wouldn't use this word in casual office chatter.
彼の祖父が亡くなったと聞きました。
Translation hint: I heard his grandfather passed away.
先月、社長のご家族が亡くなられたそうです。
Translation hint: I heard the president's family member passed away last month.
§ Hearing 亡くなる at school
In a school environment, students and teachers might use 亡くなる when discussing a classmate's pet passing away, or perhaps a more somber topic like a historical figure's death in a history class. It maintains a respectful tone that's appropriate for educational settings.
彼のペットが先週亡くなったので、元気がないです。
Translation hint: His pet passed away last week, so he's not doing well.
この有名な作家は1980年に亡くなりました。
Translation hint: This famous author passed away in 1980.
§ Hearing 亡くなる in the news
News reports frequently use 亡くなる to announce the death of public figures, victims of accidents, or in obituaries. It's the standard respectful term used in formal journalism to convey the sensitive nature of death. You will almost always hear this verb on the news when reporting on someone's death, especially if it's not a crime-related death.
有名な俳優が昨日亡くなりました。
Translation hint: A famous actor passed away yesterday.
事故で3人が亡くなったと報じられています。
Translation hint: It is reported that three people passed away in the accident.
§ Key takeaways for 亡くなる
- 亡くなる is a polite way to say "to pass away."
- It's used in formal and respectful contexts like work, school, and news.
- Pay attention to honorifics like 亡くなられる when appropriate.
- Avoid using 死ぬ in formal situations to maintain politeness.
Beispiele nach Niveau
祖母が昨晩静かに亡くなりました。
My grandmother quietly passed away last night.
彼は愛する家族に看取られながら、安らかに亡くなった。
He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family.
彼女の父は長い闘病の末、先日亡くなりました。
Her father passed away the other day after a long illness.
幼い頃に母が亡くなり、父が私を育ててくれました。
My mother passed away when I was young, and my father raised me.
悲しいことに、彼女の友人が予期せぬ事故で亡くなった。
Sadly, her friend passed away in an unexpected accident.
彼の尊敬する師匠が、老衰のためこの世を去り亡くなった。
His respected master passed away due to old age.
世界中で多くの人々が疫病で亡くなっている。
Many people around the world are passing away from epidemics.
著名な作家が突然亡くなり、多くのファンが悲しんだ。
A famous writer suddenly passed away, and many fans grieved.
祖父は去年の夏に静かに亡くなりました。
My grandfather passed away peacefully last summer.
彼女の愛するペットが亡くなったと聞いて、とても悲しんでいます。
She is very sad to hear that her beloved pet passed away.
もし私が先に亡くなったら、残された家族が心配です。
If I pass away first, I'm worried about my remaining family.
彼は若い頃に両親を亡くし、苦労しました。
He lost his parents when he was young and had a hard time.
多くの人々が、その事故で亡くなった方々を追悼しました。
Many people mourned those who passed away in the accident.
彼女は長年の闘病の末、先日亡くなりました。
After a long battle with illness, she passed away the other day.
残念ながら、彼の事業パートナーは予期せぬ病で亡くなりました。
Unfortunately, his business partner passed away from an unexpected illness.
歴史の記録によると、その王は高齢で亡くなったとされています。
According to historical records, that king passed away at an old age.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
彼は去年の夏に亡くなりました。
He passed away last summer.
私の祖母は3年前に亡くなりました。
My grandmother passed away 3 years ago.
彼女は若くして亡くなった。
She passed away at a young age.
彼の父親は病気で亡くなった。
His father passed away due to illness.
その犬は老衰で亡くなりました。
That dog passed away from old age.
もし私が亡くなったら、どうなるの？
If I pass away, what will happen?
彼が亡くなったと聞いて、とても悲しかった。
I was very sad to hear that he passed away.
彼は静かに亡くなりました。
He passed away peacefully.
大切な人が亡くなるのはつらい。
It's hard when someone important passes away.
彼の夢は、彼が亡くなるまで叶わなかった。
His dream was not realized until he passed away.
Wird oft verwechselt mit
The most common and direct verb for 'to die'. Use 亡くなる for politeness and respect.
Sounds the same as 亡くなる but means 'to be lost/disappear' for inanimate objects. Check the kanji!
A very formal and respectful verb for 'to pass away', even more elevated than 亡くなる.
Leicht verwechselbar
Both mean 'to die', but 死ぬ (shinu) is the plain, more direct, and sometimes harsher verb.
亡くなる (nakunaru) is a more polite and softer way to say 'to pass away' or 'to die', often used when speaking about people, especially family members or respected individuals. 死ぬ (shinu) can be used for anyone, but it can sound blunt, especially in formal contexts or when talking about someone recently deceased. Think of 亡くなる as 'pass away' and 死ぬ as 'die'.
彼のおじいさんは先月亡くなりました。 (かれのおじいさんはせんげつなくなりました。) - His grandfather passed away last month. あの犬は昨日死んだ。 (あのいぬはきのうしんだ。) - That dog died yesterday.
This also sounds like 'nakunaru' but has a different kanji and meaning.
亡くなる (nakunaru) means 'to pass away' (for living things). 無くなる (nakunaru) means 'to be lost, to disappear, to run out of something' (for inanimate objects or resources). The kanji differentiate them clearly in writing, but they sound the same.
お金が無くなった。 (おかねがなくなった。) - My money is gone/I ran out of money. あの店はもうなくなった。 (あのみせはもうなくなった。) - That shop doesn't exist anymore.
Another way to say 'to die', which can cause confusion regarding appropriate usage.
他界する (takaisuru) is a very formal and respectful way to say 'to pass away', often used in eulogies, obituaries, or very formal speech. It's more elevated than 亡くなる (nakunaru).
彼は若くして他界しました。 (かれはわかくして他界しました。) - He passed away at a young age.
This is a noun related to death, which might be confused with a verb.
ご逝去 (goseikyo) is a very formal and honorific noun meaning 'death' or 'decease'. It's used when speaking about someone's death with utmost respect, usually in written announcements or formal condolences. It's not a verb like 亡くなる (nakunaru).
Aさんのご逝去の報に接し、心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。 (Aさんのごせいきょのほうにせっし、こころよりおくやみもうしあげます。) - Receiving the news of A's passing, I offer my deepest condolences.
This also means 'to die', but has a specific nuance.
永眠する (eimin suru) literally means 'to sleep eternally'. It's a poetic and euphemistic way to say 'to die', often used in epitaphs or when referring to someone resting in peace. It carries a gentler, more peaceful connotation than even 亡くなる (nakunaru).
彼は故郷の土に永眠した。 (かれはこきょうのつちにえいみんした。) - He rests eternally in the soil of his hometown.
Tipps
Learn the nuance: '亡くなる' vs. '死ぬ'
While both mean 'to die', 亡くなる is a more polite and softer way to say it, often used when referring to people. 死ぬ can sound quite blunt, especially when talking about humans. Think of it like 'pass away' versus 'die'.
Understand the kanji
The first kanji, 亡 (bō/mō/na-), means 'to die', 'to be lost', or 'to perish'. The second kanji, な (na-), is part of the verb ending. Recognizing this kanji can help you guess the meaning in other words.
Conjugate it like a regular -u verb
亡くなる is a regular -u verb (五段動詞 - godan doushi). This means you can conjugate it like other -u verbs you know, such as 行く (iku - to go) or 話す (hanasu - to speak). For example, the past tense is 亡くなった (nakunatta).
Practice with example sentences
The best way to remember new vocabulary is to see it in action. Create your own sentences or use existing ones. For example: 祖父が去年亡くなりました。(Sofuga kyonen nakunarimashita.) - My grandfather passed away last year.
Associate with related words
Connect 亡くなる with other words you know that are related to loss or death, like お葬式 (osoushiki - funeral) or 悲しい (kanashii - sad). This builds a network of vocabulary in your mind.
Respectful language in sensitive situations
In Japanese culture, it's very important to use polite and respectful language, especially when discussing sensitive topics like death. Using 亡くなる shows consideration and respect.
Avoid '死ぬ' for people in most contexts
Unless you are in a very casual setting with close friends, or if you are describing something abstract, it's generally best to avoid using 死ぬ when talking about a person's passing. It can come across as insensitive.
Listen for it in media
Pay attention when watching Japanese dramas, news, or reading books. You'll often hear or read 亡くなる when characters or narrators refer to someone's death. This helps reinforce its natural usage.
Consider similar-sounding words
Be careful not to confuse 亡くなる (nakunaru) with なくなる (nakunaru - to disappear, to be lost, to run out) which is written with a different kanji: 無くなる. The context usually makes it clear, but it's good to be aware.
Use flashcards with example sentences
When making flashcards for 亡くなる, always include a full example sentence on the back, not just the definition. This helps you remember how it's used naturally. For example, 彼は若くして亡くなりました。(Kare wa wakaku shite nakunarimashita.) - He passed away young.
Teste dich selbst 30 Fragen
His grandmother passed away last week.
He is very sad because his beloved pet passed away.
His family informed us that his grandfather passed away.
Read this aloud:
猫が亡くなった。
Focus: neko ga naku natta
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
おじいさんが亡くなりました。
Focus: ojiisan ga naku narimashita
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
彼女の父は昨年亡くなりました。
Focus: kanojo no chichi wa sakunen naku narimashita
Du hast gesagt:
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Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 祖父は去年、静かに___。
The sentence talks about an grandfather's passing last year, so '亡くなりました' (passed away) is the correct verb.
Which sentence uses 「亡くなる」 correctly?
「亡くなる」 refers to the act of passing away. It is used correctly in the context of a pet's death.
Select the correct English translation for: 彼女のおばあちゃんは先月亡くなりました。
「亡くなりました」 means 'passed away'.
「亡くなる」 can be used when someone is born.
「亡くなる」 specifically means to pass away or die, not to be born.
It is polite to use 「亡くなる」 when talking about someone's death.
「亡くなる」 is a polite and respectful way to say 'to pass away' in Japanese.
You can use 「亡くなる」 to describe a car breaking down.
「亡くなる」 is used for living beings passing away, not for inanimate objects breaking down.
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 祖父は穏やかに___。
「亡くなる」は「死ぬ」の丁寧な表現で、身内や目上の人の死に対して使われます。
次のうち、「亡くなる」の敬語表現として正しいものを選びなさい。
「お亡くなりになる」が「亡くなる」の尊敬語です。
彼は若くして___、家族は深い悲しみに暮れた。
「亡くなる」は、人の死を表す際に丁寧に使われる言葉です。
「亡くなる」は、動物が死んだ場合にも使える表現である。
「亡くなる」は基本的に人間に対して使う表現で、動物には「死ぬ」を使うのが一般的です。
「亡くなる」は「死ぬ」よりも丁寧な表現であり、身内や目上の人の死に対して使うことが適切である。
「亡くなる」は「死ぬ」の婉曲表現であり、敬意を示す際に用いられます。
友人のペットが死んだことを伝える際に、「あなたのペットが亡くなりました」と言うのは自然な表現である。
ペットに対して「亡くなる」を使うことは稀で、通常は「死んだ」や「亡くなった」を使います。
This sentence describes a past event. The typical Japanese sentence structure places the time indicator ('昨年' - last year) first, followed by the subject ('祖父が' - grandfather) and then the verb ('亡くなりました' - passed away).
This sentence conveys an emotional reaction. '突然の知らせに' (at the sudden news) sets the context, followed by the emotion ('悲しみを' - sadness) and the inability to conceal it ('隠せなかった' - couldn't hide).
This sentence expresses a reaction to hearing news. '彼が亡くなった' (he passed away) is the embedded clause, followed by 'と聞いて' (upon hearing that) and the reaction ('ショックだった' - it was a shock).
This sentence means 'When my grandfather passed away, I was still young.' The particles connect the clauses correctly.
This sentence means 'Everyone was surprised by the news that he suddenly passed away.' The 'という' connects the clause to '知らせ' (news).
This sentence means 'His wife, who had been with him for many years, passed away, and he grieved deeply.' '連れ添った' modifies '妻'.
/ 30 correct
Perfect score!
Learn the nuance: '亡くなる' vs. '死ぬ'
While both mean 'to die', 亡くなる is a more polite and softer way to say it, often used when referring to people. 死ぬ can sound quite blunt, especially when talking about humans. Think of it like 'pass away' versus 'die'.
Understand the kanji
The first kanji, 亡 (bō/mō/na-), means 'to die', 'to be lost', or 'to perish'. The second kanji, な (na-), is part of the verb ending. Recognizing this kanji can help you guess the meaning in other words.
Conjugate it like a regular -u verb
亡くなる is a regular -u verb (五段動詞 - godan doushi). This means you can conjugate it like other -u verbs you know, such as 行く (iku - to go) or 話す (hanasu - to speak). For example, the past tense is 亡くなった (nakunatta).
Practice with example sentences
The best way to remember new vocabulary is to see it in action. Create your own sentences or use existing ones. For example: 祖父が去年亡くなりました。(Sofuga kyonen nakunarimashita.) - My grandfather passed away last year.
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