亡くなる
なくなる
to pass away
Nakunaru (亡くなる) is a godan verb meaning "to pass away". Its polite form is 亡くなります (nakunarimasu), its te form is 亡くなって (nakunatte), its past form is 亡くなった (nakunatta), and its negative form is 亡くならない (nakunaranai).
Godan verbJLPT N4
Nakunaru (亡くなる) conjugation quick reference
亡くなる means "to pass away". Its main forms are listed below, with links to the grammar pattern behind each form.
Nakunaru example sentences
My grandmother passed away yesterday.
He was still young, I can't believe he suddenly passed away.
I'm praying she doesn't pass away from her illness.
How to use Nakunaru: grammar notes
•Use 亡くなる when talking politely about someone else's death, especially to show respect (e.g., おばあさんが亡くなりました = My grandmother passed away).
•Always use the particle が with the person who passed away, not を (wrong: おばあさんを亡くなりました ❌).
•Don’t use 亡くなる for objects or pets; it's usually reserved for people — for pets, you can use 死ぬ or say いなくなりました instead.
•JLPT N4 level
Common phrases with Nakunaru
祖父が亡くなりました
My grandfather passed away
亡くなった人のために祈る
Pray for the person who passed away
～が突然亡くなって驚きました
I was shocked that ~ suddenly passed away
Nakunaru (亡くなる) conjugation table
| Form | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Forms | ||
| Dictionary Form | 亡くなる | nakunaru |
| Masu Form | 亡くなります | nakunarimasu |
| Te Form | 亡くなって | nakunatte |
| Past Form | 亡くなった | nakunatta |
| Negative Form | 亡くならない | nakunaranai |
| Past Negative | 亡くならなかった | nakunaranakatta |
| Polite Forms | ||
| Polite Present | 亡くなります | nakunarimasu |
| Polite Past | 亡くなりました | nakunarimashita |
| Polite Negative | 亡くなりません | nakunarimasen |
| Polite Past Negative | 亡くなりませんでした | nakunarimasendeshita |
| Advanced Forms | ||
| Potential Form | 亡くなれる | nakunareru |
| Passive Form | 亡くなられる | nakunarareru |
| Causative Form | 亡くならせる | nakunaraseru |
| Causative Passive | 亡くならされる | nakunarasareru |
| Volitional Form | 亡くなろう | nakunarou |
| Imperative Form | 亡くなれ | nakunare |
| Conditional Forms | ||
| Conditional (ば) | 亡くなれば | nakunareba |
| Conditional (たら) | 亡くなったら | nakunattara |
| Other Forms | ||
| Progressive Form | 亡くなっている | nakunatteiru |
| Desire (たい) | 亡くなりたい | nakunaritai |
| Prohibition | 亡くなるな | nakunaruna |