溘然长逝
kè rán cháng shì
to pass away suddenly
Character by character
溘kè
suddenly
suddenly
然rán
-ly
-ly
长cháng
for ever
for ever
逝shì
depart
depart
Example
老人那天早上还在公园里打太极拳，没想到下午就溘然长逝了。
The old man was doing tai chi in the park that morning; no one imagined that by the afternoon he would be gone.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
A literary euphemism for death in obituaries, eulogies and memoirs, suggesting a sudden or peaceful end; 溘 (suddenly) goes back to 屈原’s Li Sao. Too solemn for casual talk, and never used of animals or in jest.
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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