这些动词或短语动词均有“死”或“死亡”之意。
die : 最普通用词，指某人或某物失去生命而永远不存在。
- Twelve people died in the accident.
12人在此次事故中丧生。 - She died of/from hunger/cancer/a heart attack/her injuries.
她死于饥饿／癌症／心脏病／伤病。 - It is a brave person who will die for their beliefs.
愿为信念而死的人称得上是勇敢者。 - I would like to die in my sleep (= while I am sleeping).
我愿在睡梦中死去。 - Many people have a fear of dying.
很多人害怕死亡。 - Our love will never die.
我们的爱将永不消逝。 - She will not tell anyone - the secret will die with her.
她不会告诉任何人——这个秘密会烂在她的肚子里。
decease : 正式用词，多指法律上的用语。
- The house will not be yours till after your mother's decease.
你母亲过世后这座房子才能归你。
expire : 委婉用词。从本义“从肺部吐出气来”引申为吐出最后一口气，断气而死。
- He endured excruciating agonies before he finally expired.
在最终离世前他经受了极大的痛苦。
perish : 书面用词，多指夭折或不幸暴亡。
- Three hundred people perished in the earthquake.
300人在此次地震中丧生。 - He believes that Europe must create closer ties or it will perish.
他认为整个欧洲必须建立更紧密的联系，否则就会灭亡。
pass away是die的委婉用语。
- She's terribly upset because her father passed away last week.
她非常难过，因为她父亲上周去世了。 - He unfortunately passed away last year.
他去年不幸逝世。
