Definition
丧命 is a formal or literary verb meaning 'to lose one's life' (especially in accidents, violence, or disasters). It is a separable verb (离合词): the character 丧 is the verb 'to lose' and 命 is the noun 'life'. You can insert 了 or 过 between them to indicate aspect, e.g., 丧了命 ('lost one's life'). It is not used with a direct object; instead, use a prepositional phrase like 在事故中丧命 ('lose one's life in an accident').
v.o.
to lose one's life (in an accident, violence, or disaster)to die (formal/literary)
Examples
- 丧命。Tā zài nà chǎng chēhuò zhōng sàng mìng le.He lost his life in that car accident.
- 。Tā zài zhànzhēng zhōng sàng le mìng.He lost his life in the war.
- ,丧命。Yīnwèi shíwù zhòngdú, jǐ ge rén sàng mìng le.Several people lost their lives because of food poisoning.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.