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南非总统祖马当地时间12月5日深夜证实：南非国父、前总统、反种族隔离斗士纳尔逊•曼德拉因病逝世，享年95岁。
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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.
南非总统祖马宣布，南非前总统纳尔逊•曼德拉因长期肺部感染于周四在约翰内斯堡的家中平静离世。
我们中国人通常都很忌讳说“死”这个字，不同时期对“死”也有不同的说法。古代按照等级的划分有“天子死曰崩，诸侯死曰薨，大夫死曰卒，士曰不禄，庶人曰死”的说法，现在我们会说一个人“离开了我们”，“去世了”、“走了”等。
英语中除了用die这个比较直接的说法表示“死”以外，其实也有不少委婉的表达方式，比如pass away、pass on、depart、expire、perish等，这里的perish多指非正常死亡，比如perish in battle（在战争中死亡）。
其他一些英语中常用的委婉说法还有：
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.
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（中国日报网英语点津 Helen）
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