南非總統祖馬當地時間12月5日深夜證實：南非國父、前總統、反種族隔離斗士納爾遜?曼德拉因病逝世，享年95歲。

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Nelson Mandela smiles as he watches the coronation ceremony of Bafokeng's King Leruo Tshekedi Molotlegi at a sports stadium in Phokeng, 120 km (81 miles) north of Johannesburg, in this August 16, 2003 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

Former South African President Nelson Mandela died peacefully at his Johannesburg home on Thursday after a prolonged lung infection, President Jacob Zuma said.

南非總統祖馬宣布，南非前總統納爾遜?曼德拉因長期肺部感染于周四在約翰內斯堡的家中平靜離世。

我們中國人通常都很忌諱說“死”這個字，不同時期對“死”也有不同的說法。古代按照等級的劃分有“天子死曰崩，諸侯死曰薨，大夫死曰卒，士曰不祿，庶人曰死”的說法，現在我們會說一個人“離開了我們”，“去世了”、“走了”等。

英語中除了用die這個比較直接的說法表示“死”以外，其實也有不少委婉的表達方式，比如pass away、pass on、depart、expire、perish等，這里的perish多指非正常死亡，比如perish in battle（在戰爭中死亡）。

其他一些英語中常用的委婉說法還有：

His time has come.

He has climbed the golden staircase.

His number is up.

His sands have run out.

His star has set.

He has joined the majority.

He is sleeping the final sleep.

He is resting in peace.

He has met his end.

He has breathed his last.

He answered the last number.

He has joined the angels.

相關閱讀

“反種族隔離偶像”曼德拉去世

駱家輝“辭職”

岡比亞與臺灣“斷交”

離婚相關詞匯

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）

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