殤 (shāng) - To die young & to perish

殤Tone 1

shāng ｜ 15 strokes ｜ radical:

善上

殤 · shāng

To die young;

to perish;

to fall in battle;

mourning for the premature death of a young person.

To die youngto perishto fall in battle

Usage highlights

To die youngNational mourning for the war deadTo die in infancyTo die prematurelyFallen soldiersMourning song

Synonyms

  • 夭— to die young
  • 逝— to pass away
  • 亡— to perish, to die

Antonyms

  • 寿— longevity
  • 生— life, to be born
  • 活— to live

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He died young in battle (阵亡).
  • The nation mourned its fallen soldiers (国殇).
  • It is heartbreaking to see a child die young (夭殇).
  • The poem laments those who died young (殇逝).

Collocations

  • To die young(殇逝)
  • National mourning for the war dead(国殇)
  • To die in infancy(夭殇)
  • To die prematurely(早殇)
  • Fallen soldiers(殇魂)
  • Mourning song(殇歌)

Idioms

  • National mourning for war dead(国殇)
  • Lament for the untimely dead(殇魂未远)
  • Mourning song of Chu(楚殇)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, dying young was considered a great tragedy and misfortune.
  • The character appears in the famous poem '国殇' from the Chu Ci, lamenting soldiers who died in battle.
  • Traditionally associated with untimely death and deep sorrow, making it a heavy character with strong emotional weight.

FAQ