殇 (shāng) - to die young & premature death

殇Tone 1

shāng ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical: 歹

善上

殇 · shāng

to die young;

premature death;

to perish;

a term for a young person who dies before adulthood.

to die youngpremature deathto perish

Usage highlights

to die youngnational martyrearly deathchild deathdeath in youthlament for the dead

Synonyms

  • 夭— to die young; premature death
  • 逝— to pass away; to die
  • 亡— to perish; to die

Antonyms

  • 寿— longevity; long life
  • 生— life; to be born

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The young soldier died on the battlefield (国殇).
  • It is tragic when a child dies young (早殇).
  • The poem laments those who died young (殇逝).

Collocations

  • to die young(殇逝)
  • national martyr(国殇)
  • early death(早殇)
  • child death(夭殇)
  • death in youth(殇亡)
  • lament for the dead(殇悼)

Idioms

  • Lament for the Fallen(国殇)
  • Untimely Demise(殇夭)
  • Grief for the Young Departed(伤殇)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originates from ancient Chinese texts, often used in elegies and poems to express grief for those who died young.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, death before adulthood or marriage was considered particularly tragic and inauspicious.
  • Frequently appears in classical literature to convey themes of unfulfilled potential and sorrow.

FAQ