死于非命

死於非命

sǐyú-fēimìng

idiom #20,603

Meanings

1 to die a violent or unnatural death
2 to meet an untimely end
3 to die in an accident or by violence

Characters

not / non- / abnormal

life / fate / destiny

Examples

HSK 5

那位年轻的演员不幸死于非命。

Nàwèi niánqīng de yǎnyuán bùxìng sǐyúfēimìng.

That young actor unfortunately died an untimely, violent death.

HSK 7-9

战乱年间，无数无辜百姓死于非命。

Zhànluàn nián jiān, wúshù wúgū bǎixìng sǐyúfēimìng.

During the years of war, countless innocent people died violent deaths.

Tips

memory

Literally: 'to die (死) at (于) not-fate (非命).' 非命 means an unnatural fate - death that was not supposed to come naturally. The idiom emphasizes that the death was violent, accidental, or caused by others, not by old age.

Stroke Order

死 sǐ

于 yú

非 fēi

命 mìng