薨 (hōng) - To die & death of a feudal lord, high official, or

薨Tone 1

hōng ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

薨 · hōng

To die;

death of a feudal lord, high official, or royalty in ancient China.

To diedeath of a feudal lord, high official, or

Usage highlights

Feudal lord's deathPrince's demiseRoyal deathSudden death of officialRecord of deathDeath announcement

Synonyms

  • 死— to die (general term)
  • 崩— death of emperor
  • 卒— death of official/scholar

Antonyms

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

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The feudal lord passed away (诸侯薨).
  • Records show the prince's death (王子薨).
  • The high minister died suddenly (大臣暴薨).
  • Ancient texts document royal deaths (王薨).

Collocations

  • Feudal lord's death(诸侯薨)
  • Prince's demise(王子薨)
  • Royal death(王薨)
  • Sudden death of official(暴薨)
  • Record of death(薨逝)
  • Death announcement(薨殁)

Idioms

  • The emperor dies and the prince ascends(皇帝驾薨，太子继位)
  • When the lord dies, the state mourns(君薨，举国哀悼)
  • The feudal lord's death brings succession crisis(诸侯薨，继位乱)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese hierarchy, 薨 was specifically used for deaths of feudal lords and high-ranking nobility, distinguishing it from 死 (common death) and 崩 (emperor's death).
  • The term reflects the strict social hierarchy of imperial China where different words were used for death based on social status.
  • Usage was formal and primarily found in historical records and classical literature.

FAQ