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

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.

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