誰かが亡くなった
dareka ga nakunatta
In Japanese, 'someone died' is expressed as 誰かが亡くなった (dareka ga nakunatta).
This phrase is used to state that a person has passed away.
Which one should you use?
The form 誰かが亡くなった uses the verb 亡くなった (nakunatta), which is a respectful way to describe a death.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 誰かが亡くなった is the plain past tense, suitable for casual conversation or for narrating facts in writing. For use with strangers or in formal settings, you should use the more polite form 誰かが亡くなりました.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the plain past tense form 亡くなった (nakunatta).
How do you pronounce it?
dareka ga nakunatta
Did you know?
- At funerals, Japanese people avoid 忌み言葉 or 'taboo words' that suggest repetition, such as 'again' or 'repeatedly', to prevent the death from happening a second time.
- In Buddhist contexts, the term 入滅 describes death as 'extinguishing the lamp', reflecting the concept of entering nirvana.
- When describing the death of an Emperor or a deity, Japanese uses a unique set of sacred words that are entirely different from those used for ordinary people.
Examples in context
- 間に合わなかったThey couldn't make it
- 旅立ったThey embarked on a journey
- 息を引き取ったThey took their last breath
- 心からお悔やみ申し上げますI offer my heartfelt condolences
- 誰かが亡くなったようです。Dareka ga nakunatta you desu.It seems that someone died.
- あそこで誰かが亡くなったと聞きました。Asoko de dareka ga nakunatta to kikimashita.I heard that someone died there.
- 誰かが亡くなったという知らせがあった。Dareka ga nakunatta to iu shirase ga atta.There was a notice that someone died.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a mysterious event in their neighborhood.
- 美咲 Misakiニュースを見た？Nyūsu o mita?Did you see the news?
- 蓮 Renいいえ、どうしたの？Iie, dōshita no?No, what happened?
- 美咲 Misaki近所で誰かが亡くなったらしいよ。Kinjo de dareka ga nakunatta rashii yo.It seems that someone died in the neighborhood.
- 蓮 Renそれは大変だね。Sore wa taihen da ne.That is terrible.
