殞 (yǔn) - To perish & to die

殞Tone 3

yǔn ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

殞 · yǔn

To perish;

to die;

to fall;

to be destroyed;

to meet one's end.

To perishto dieto fall

Usage highlights

to perish in battleto fall from the skyto be destroyed and perishto sacrifice one's lifethe death of a starto die in service

Synonyms

  • 死— to die (general term)
  • 亡— to perish; to be destroyed
  • 逝— to pass away (euphemistic)
  • 毙— to be killed; to die

Antonyms

  • 生— to live; to be born
  • 存— to exist; to survive
  • 活— to live; to be alive

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The hero perished in battle (英雄殞落).
  • Many stars fall from the sky (群星殞落).
  • The dynasty fell after the invasion (王朝殞灭).
  • He died for his country (为国殞身).

Collocations

  • to perish in battle(殞阵)
  • to fall from the sky(殞落)
  • to be destroyed and perish(殞灭)
  • to sacrifice one's life(殞身)
  • the death of a star(星殞)
  • to die in service(殞命)

Idioms

  • The jade is shattered and the incense is gone(玉殞香消)
  • To shatter like jade and sink like pearls(珠沉玉殞)
  • To die a heroic death(殞身不恤)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used in classical literature and historical texts to describe the death of heroes, nobles, or significant figures.
  • Carries a poetic and solemn tone, frequently appearing in elegies and commemorative writings.
  • Commonly associated with tragic or heroic deaths, particularly in military or noble contexts.

FAQ