Meaning
The kanji 死 covers the concept of death and the act of dying. It is one of the most culturally significant characters in Japan. Because its reading シ (shi) is the same as the word for 'four' (四), the number four is considered unlucky. You will often see the fourth floor omitted in hospitals or hotels to avoid this association.
Etymologically, 死 is an ideogram split into two parts. The left side is the radical 歹 (gatsuhen), which depicts a broken bone or decaying remains. The right side 匕 (saji) represents a person bent over. Together, they create an image of someone mourning or kneeling beside a skeleton. It captures the physical reality of life's end with stark simplicity.
While the subject is heavy, 死 is essential for daily life and formal Japanese. It consists of 6 strokes and is taught in the 3rd grade. Students must master this character for the JLPT N4, as it appears in everything from news reports to historical texts.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi reading is シ (shi). Use this reading for compound words (jukugo). Note that while common in writing, using the word 'shi' by itself in speech can sound very blunt or harsh.
死体 (shitai) — A corpse; used in clinical or news contexts.
死因 (shiin) — The cause of death; often seen in medical or police reports.
死後 (shigo) — After death; used when discussing an artist's legacy or the afterlife.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The native reading is し.ぬ (shi-nu). This is the dictionary form of the verb "to die." Interestingly, しぬ is one of the only two verbs in modern Japanese that end in the syllable "nu," the other being the archaic 'inu' (to leave).
死ぬ (shinu) — To die; the standard verb for living things.
死に (shini) — The noun form of dying; appears in words like 死に顔 (shinigao), the face of the deceased.
死に際 (shinigiva) — One's final moments or the verge of death.
Common Words & Compounds
This kanji appears in many idiomatic expressions where it takes on a metaphorical meaning, such as doing something with extreme effort.
Formal and Medical Terms
死亡 (shibou) — Mortality; a formal term used in statistics and news instead of the more casual 'shinu'.
急死 (kyuushi) — Sudden death; used when someone passes away without warning.
即死 (sokushi) — Instant death; typically used in accident reports.
安楽死 (anrakushi) — Euthanasia; literally translates as "peaceful death."
Metaphorical Usage
必死 (hisshi) — Desperate or frantic. It literally means "certain death," describing someone acting as if their life is on the line.
決死 (kesshi) — Do-or-die; a spirit of total determination.
死守 (shishu) — Defending at all costs; literally "defending until death."
General Vocabulary
死者 (shisha) — The dead or casualties; used in official counts after disasters.
生死 (seishi) — Life and death; the boundary between the two.
死刑 (shikei) — The death penalty; capital punishment.
Example Sentences
庭の金魚が死んでしまいました。
Niwa no kingyo ga shinde shimaimashita.
The goldfish in the garden died.
彼は試験に合格するために必死に勉強しています。
Kare wa shiken ni goukaku suru tame ni hisshi ni benkyou shite imasu.
He is studying desperately to pass the exam.
事故の死者は計五人にのぼりました。
Jiko no shisha wa kei gonin ni noborimashita.
The death toll from the accident rose to a total of five people.
お祖父さんは去年、病気で亡くなりました。
Ojiisan wa kyonen, byouki de nakunarimashita.
My grandfather passed away from an illness last year. (Note: nakunaru is the polite euphemism for death).
警察はまだ死因を特定できていません。
Keisatsu wa mada shiin wo tokutei dekite imasen.
The police have not yet been able to identify the cause of death.
彼の話が面白すぎて、笑い死ぬかと思いました。
Kare no hanashi ga omoshirosugite, waraishinu ka to omoimashita.
His story was so funny I thought I'd die laughing.
生死をさまようような大怪我をしました。
Seishi wo samayou you na ookega wo shimashita.
I suffered a serious injury that left me hovering between life and death.
不老不死の体を手に入れるのは不可能だ。
Furoufushi no karada wo te ni ireru no wa fukanou da.
It is impossible to obtain a body of eternal youth and immortality.
Related Kanji
- 思 — To Think, Feel, Imagine (Kanji N4)
- 走 — Run, Move fast (Kanji N4)
- 開 — Open, Unfold, Begin (Kanji N4)
- 知 — Know, Wisdom, Intellect (Kanji N4)
- 黒 — Black, Dark (Kanji N4)
- 洗 — Wash (Kanji N4)
Memory Tip
Visualize the left side 歹 as a ribcage or a pile of bones. On the right, the 匕 looks like a person sitting or kneeling in front of them. Imagine a person kneeling in grief at a grave. For the reading, remember that "shi" is also the number 4 (四), which is why 4 is the unluckiest number in Japan.