How to say "deceased" in Japanese

• 死者ししゃCommon
  nounThe common, general word: a dead person, the deceased, or the dead, and also casualties, as when counting the dead after an accident or disaster. This is the default choice in most contexts.
  その事故じこの犠牲者ぎせいしゃ数すうは死者ししゃ５名めい、負傷者ふしょうしゃ１００名めいであった。↗

  The toll from the accident was 5 persons dead and 100 persons injured.
• 亡きなき
  pre-noun adjectivalA formal or literary term meaning 'late' or 'departed': it modifies a noun, as in 'my late father', and lends respect when speaking of someone who has died.
  ある女性じょせいが、帽子ぼうしをかぶって写うつっている亡なき旦那だんなの写真しゃしんをカメラマンの元もとへ持もっていった。↗

  A woman brought an old picture of her dead husband, wearing a hat, to the photographer.
• 被相続人ひそうぞくにん
  nounThe legal term for a 'decedent': the deceased viewed as the person whose estate passes to heirs. Use it in legal and inheritance contexts, not as an everyday word for someone who has died.
• 今は亡きいまはなき
  expression, pre-noun adjectivalLiterally 'now departed': an expressive variant of 亡き, likewise used before a noun when speaking of someone who has died, with a shade of sorrow or respect.
• 死没者しぼつしゃ
  nounA less common word with the same range of meanings as 死者: a dead person, the deceased, the dead, or casualties. For general reference to the dead, 死者 is the usual choice.

Use 死者 as the common general word for the dead or casualties; 「亡き」 and 「今は亡き」 are formal or literary ways to say 'late' or 'departed'; 被相続人 is the legal decedent; 死没者 is a less common near-synonym of 死者.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 死者ししゃdead person
• 亡きなきdeceased
• 被相続人ひそうぞくにんdecedent
• 今は亡きいまはなきdeparted
• 死没者しぼつしゃdead person