Shinu is the Japanese verb for ‘to die’, explained

What does “shinu” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “shinu” to mean ‘to die’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, i will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “shinu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “shinu”
  • Example #1: how to say “die” in Japanese
• Shinanai: the nai form of “shinu”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t die” in Japanese
• Shinou: the volitional form of “shinu”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s die” in Japanese
• Shinimasu: the masu form of “shinu”
  • Example #4: how to say “die” politely in Japanese
• Shinda: the past tense form of “shinu”
  • Example #5: how to say “died” in Japanese
• Shinde: the te form of “shinu”
  • Example #6: how to say “please die” in Japanese
• Shineba: the ba form of “shinu”
  • Example #7: how to say “when die” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “shinu”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “shinu”.

• shinu – 死ぬ (しぬ) : a verb meaning ‘to die’ in Japanese.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “die” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• maitoshi – 毎年 (まいとし) : a noun meaning ‘every year’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb at the beginning of the sentence to say “every year” in Japanese.
• umi – 海 (うみ) : a noun meaning ‘sea’ or ‘ocean’ in Japanese.
• de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this is used after “umi” to say where people die.
• hito – 人 (ひと) : a noun meaning ‘person’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “hito” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “shinu”. When we want to mean ‘to die’ in Japanese, this verb is a good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “shinu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “shinanai”.

Shinanai: the nai form of “shinu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “shinanai”.

• shinanai – 死なない (しなない) : the nai form of “shinu”, which means ‘not to die’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shinanai” consists of the following two parts:

• shina – 死な (しな) : one conjugation of “shinu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shinanai” is literally the nai form of “shinu” and means ‘not to die’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t die” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• akuma – 悪魔 (あくま) : a noun meaning ‘devil’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “akuma” to make its plural form, “akuma tachi”, which means ‘devils’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “shinanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to die’ in Japanese, this nai form is a very good option.

Shinou: the volitional form of “shinu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “shinou”.

• shinou – 死のう (しのう) : the volitional form of “shinu”, which expresses volition to die.

Grammatically, “shinou” consists of the following two parts:

• shino – 死の (しの) : one conjugation of “shinu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shinou” is literally the volitional form of “shinu” and expresses volition to die in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s die” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used after “issho” to say “together” in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “shinou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s die” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option. Perhaps, the translation of the Japanese sentence should be “let’s commit suicide together” or such, but I tried to keep the original meaning and nuance.

Shinimasu: the masu form of “shinu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “shinimasu”.

• shinimasu – 死にます (しにます) : the masu form of “shinu”, which means ‘to die’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shinimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• shini – 死に (しに) : one conjugation of “shinu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shinimasu” is literally the masu form of “shinu” and means ‘to die’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “die” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• itsuka – いつか : an adverb meaning ‘someday’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “shinimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sound polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “die” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.

Shinda: the past tense form of “shinu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “shinda”.

• shinda – 死んだ (しんだ) : the past tense form of “shinu”, which means ‘died’, ‘have died’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shinda” consists of the following two parts:

• shin – 死ん (しん) : one conjugation of “shinu”. This can have a smooth connection with “da”.
• da – だ : the voiced version of “ta” which is an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shinda” is literally the past tense form of “shinu” and means ‘died’, ‘have died’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “died” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• futari – 二人 (ふたり) : a noun meaning ‘two people’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle joining two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this works to join “futari” and “josei”. The formed phrase literally means ‘two women’ in Japanese.
• josei – 女性 (じょせい) : a noun meaning ‘woman’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “shinda”. When we want to use the past tense form of “shinu”, this form is the best option.

Shinde: the te form of “shinu”

Below are the definition and meaning of “shinde”.

• shinde – 死んで (しんで) : the te form of “shinu”, which means ‘to die’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shinde” consists of the following two parts:

• shin – 死ん (しん) : one conjugation of “shinu”. This can have a smooth connection with “de”.
• de – で : the voiced version of “te” which is a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shinde” is literally the te form of “shinu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “shinde” is very useful when we want to use “shinu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please die” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’ in Japanese. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “shinde” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “shinde”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “shinu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Shineba: the ba form of “shinu”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “shineba”.

• shineba – 死ねば (しねば) : the ba form of “shinu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to die’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “shineba” consists of the following two parts:

• shine – 死ね (しね) : one conjugation of “shinu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “shineba” is literally the ba form of “shinu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “shineba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to die’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “when die” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ore – 俺 (おれ) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ rudely in Japanese.
• tengoku – 天国 (てんごく) : a noun meaning ‘heaven’ in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say where someone or something goes. In the example, this is used after “tengoku” to say where the speakers will go.
• iku – 行く (いく) : a verb meaning ‘to go’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “shineba”. In this example, it works as the conditional clause which means ‘when we die’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to die’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “shinu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• shinu – 死ぬ (しぬ) : a verb meaning ‘to die’ in Japanese.
• shinanai – 死なない (しなない) : the nai form of “shinu”, which means ‘not to die’ in Japanese.
• shinou – 死のう (しのう) : the volitional form of “shinu”, which expresses volition to die.
• shinimasu – 死にます (しにます) : the masu form of “shinu”, which means ‘to die’ politely in Japanese.
• shinda – 死んだ (しんだ) : the past tense form of “shinu”, which means ‘died’, ‘have died’, or such in Japanese.
• shinde – 死んで (しんで) : the te form of “shinu”, which means ‘to die’ in Japanese. When we want to use “shinu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• shineba – 死ねば (しねば) : the ba form of “shinu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to die’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.