因…，于…逝世，享年…岁
died of … on … (in …), aged …
Structure
某人 因 原因 ， 于 时间 （在 地点） 逝世 ， 享年 数字 岁
What it means
The fixed sentence that announces a death: 'died of … on … (in …), aged …'. It opens obituary notices, news reports and eulogies.
How it is built
Name + 因 + cause，于 + time (+ 在 + place) + 逝世，享年 + number + 岁: 李老先生因病于本月10日在北京逝世，享年九十二岁 (Mr Li died of illness in Beijing on the 10th, aged 92).
When to use it
因 gives the cause (因病医治无效); 于 is the written 在 for time. 逝世 is for respected figures, 去世 for others. 享年 implies a full life, so old age; for the young write 年仅…岁. Neutral 终年 also occurs.
Watch out
No 了 anywhere: ✗ 于昨天逝世了 ✓ 于昨天逝世. The age is sometimes counted the traditional way (虚岁), a year more than the age in completed years.
Examples
王建华同志因病医治无效，于2024年3月5日在杭州逝世，享年八十六岁。
Comrade Wang Jianhua, despite all medical treatment, died of illness in Hangzhou on 5 March 2024, aged eighty-six.
著名画家李老先生因病于本月10日在北京逝世，享年九十二岁。
The celebrated painter Mr Li died of illness in Beijing on the 10th of this month, aged ninety-two.
张老师因突发心脏病，于昨晚在家中去世，年仅五十岁。
Ms Zhang died at home last night of a sudden heart attack, aged only fifty.
Learn this in Lesson 256 · HSK 9+: 悼词 (The eulogy)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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