殂 (cú) - to die & to pass away

殂Tone 2

cú ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

殂 · cú

to die;

to pass away;

to perish (used in classical or formal contexts, often referring to the death of rulers or in historical texts)

to dieto pass awayto perish (used in classical or formal contexts,

Usage highlights

to dieto pass awayto die youngto perishdeath of a rulerto fall in battle

Synonyms

  • 死— to die (general term)
  • 亡— to perish; to die
  • 逝— to pass away (formal)
  • 崩— to pass away (of emperors)

Antonyms

  • 生— to be born; to live
  • 活— to live; alive

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The emperor passed away (皇帝崩殂).
  • He died young (英年早殂).
  • The hero fell in battle (英雄殂落).

Collocations

  • to die(殂落)
  • to pass away(崩殂)
  • to die young(早殂)
  • to perish(殂谢)
  • death of a ruler(殂逝)
  • to fall in battle(战殂)

Idioms

  • The emperor passes away and the minister dies(君崩臣殂)
  • To die in battle(战殂沙场)
  • To pass away prematurely(英年早殂)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Primarily used in classical Chinese and historical texts, especially referring to the death of emperors or nobility.
  • Carries a formal, solemn connotation and is rarely used in modern colloquial speech.
  • Often appears in historical records and classical literature to describe the death of significant figures.

FAQ