专四考试常见词辨析：人终有一“死”

　　die, decease, expire, perish, pass away

　　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。

　　He died a millionaire.(他死时是个百万富翁。)

　　decease : 正式用词，多指法律上的用语。

　　Upon his decease the house will pass to his wife.(他死后房屋归他太太所有。)

　　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 expired at midnight.(他在午夜死去。)

　　perish : 书面用词，多指夭折或不幸暴亡。

　　Hundreds of sheep perished that year because of drought.(那年由于干旱, 几百头羊突然死去。)

　　pass away是die的委婉用语。

　　He passed away peacefully.(他安详地去世了。)