很多人会混淆 die from 和 die of,两者的核心差异在于“死亡原因的属性”:
die of:用于内部/自身原因(身体机能本身的问题,如疾病、衰老、饥饿等)。
die from:用于外部/间接原因(外界施加的伤害、事故、中毒或疾病的并发症等)。
指由外界暴力、意外事件导致的死亡:
He died from a gunshot wound (枪伤) in the robbery.
Many people die from traffic accidents (交通事故) every year.
The hiker died from a fall (坠落) off the cliff.
因接触或摄入外界有毒物质导致死亡:
The child died from accidental poisoning (意外中毒) after drinking cleaning fluid.
Workers in the factory died from carbon monoxide poisoning (一氧化碳中毒).
死亡并非由疾病本身直接导致,而是其间接影响或外界压力:
She died from complications of surgery (手术并发症) (而非手术本身).
He died from overwork (过度工作) after months of sleepless nights.
The plant died from lack of water (缺水) (外界未提供水分).
指“非自然死亡”(如谋杀、事故等),常用 die from unnatural causes:
The police found he died from unnatural causes (非自然原因) —— he was murdered.
1、 不能用于被动语态:die 是不及物动词,无被动形式(× He was died from...;√ He died from...)。
2、 动名词作宾语:from 是介词,后可接动名词(表示“因做某事而死”):
He died from drinking contaminated water (喝受污染的水).
3、 界限模糊的情况:现代英语中,部分情况两者可互换(如 die from/of cancer),但传统用法仍优先区分“内外因”。
若原因是“身体里面的问题”(如癌症、心脏病、饥饿)→ die of;
若原因是“外面来的伤害/间接影响”(如车祸、枪伤、中毒)→ die from。
通过以上区分,可更准确使用这两个短语~