Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 哀悼 | āidào |
| 吊慰 | diàowèi |
These terms are used to express sympathy when someone has died. You can use the construction 致以哀悼 (zhìyǐ āidào) to 'extend condolences' in formal letters or public statements. For more specific expressions of grief, you can use 表示哀悼 (biǎoshì āidào) to mean 'to express condolences', 深表哀悼 (shēn biǎo āidào) to convey 'deep sympathy' or 衷心慰问 (zhōngxīn wèiwèn) to express 'sincere condolences'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 哀悼 (āidào) consists of 哀 (āi), meaning sorrowful or grief-stricken and 悼 (dào), meaning to mourn or remember.
Which one should you use?
哀悼 (āidào) is a formal noun or verb used for the act of mourning or expressing condolences. In contrast, 吊慰 (diàowèi) focuses more on the act of consoling or comforting the bereaved.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Certain constructions are specifically suited for official or written contexts, such as using 表示哀悼 (biǎoshì āidào) to mean 'to express condolences'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, it is common to use the phrase 深表哀痛 to express condolences. In Hong Kong, a commonly used phrase is 衷心哀悼.
How do you pronounce it?
āidào
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, expressing condolences often involves the use of white envelopes for monetary gifts, as white is the traditional color of mourning and death.
- When offering condolences in person, it is common to avoid the word 'death' directly and instead use euphemisms like 走了 (zǒu le), which literally means 'has walked' or 'has left'.
- The character 哀 (āi) in 哀悼 is an ideogram that originally depicted a person leaning over in grief with their arms hanging down.
Examples in context
- 我对您表示衷心的慰问。I extend my heartfelt condolences to you.
- 我真心地向你表示慰问。I genuinely extend my condolences to you.
- 我们要向他们表示哀悼。Wǒmen yào xiàng tāmen biǎoshì āidào.We should express our condolences to them.
- 他在仪式上表达了深切的哀悼。Tā zài yíshì shàng biǎodá le shēnqiè de āidào.He expressed deep condolences during the ceremony.
- 全校师生都在哀悼这位校长。Quán xiào shīshēng dōu zài āidào zhè wèi xiàozhǎng.All the teachers and students are mourning the principal.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “condolence” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
