Customs Guide
How to write a Chinese obituary (訃聞)
A Chinese obituary, called a 訃聞 (fù wén) or 訃告 (fù gào), is a formal announcement from the family: who has died, when, and where and when relatives and friends may pay their respects. Families in the United States usually publish a shorter bilingual version. This guide explains both.
What an obituary needs to say
Whether it is written in the traditional style or as a few plain paragraphs, an obituary answers the same questions:
- Who. The full name in Chinese and in English, and often the hometown or ancestral place (籍貫).
- When. The date of death, the date of birth, and the age.
- The family. The spouse, children and their spouses, and grandchildren, listed in order of seniority.
- The services. The date, time, and place of the visitation, the funeral, and the burial or cremation.
- Wishes. Whether flowers are welcome, or whether the family prefers donations to a temple, church, or charity.
The traditional form
A traditional 訃聞 is written in formal language from the point of view of the children. It names the deceased with an honorific, states the date and manner of passing, gives the age, announces the rites, and closes with the names of the mourning family. These are the terms you will see most often:
| Term | Pinyin | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 顯考 / 顯妣 | xiǎn kǎo / xiǎn bǐ | “Our honored late father” / “our honored late mother.” |
| 府君 / 太夫人 | fǔ jūn / tài fūrén | Honorifics placed after the name of a father / a mother. |
| 壽終正寢 / 壽終內寢 | shòu zhōng zhèng qǐn / nèi qǐn | “Passed away peacefully at the end of a long life,” for a man / for a woman. |
| 享壽 / 享年 / 得年 | xiǎng shòu / xiǎng nián / dé nián | “Aged”: 享壽 for sixty and over, 享年 for those under sixty, 得年 for someone who died young. |
| 孝男 / 孝女 | xiào nán / xiào nǚ | “Filial son” / “filial daughter,” before each child’s name. Sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren follow. |
| 家祭 / 公祭 | jiā jì / gōng jì | The family rites / the public tribute for friends and colleagues. |
| 泣啟 / 謹啟 | qì qǐ / jǐn qǐ | “Announced in tears” / “respectfully announced,” after the family’s names. |
Ages in a traditional 訃聞 are often counted the Chinese way, which is one or more years higher than the Western age. If your family wishes to use the traditional count, tell us and we will word it accordingly.
Wording by faith
The phrase for the passing itself reflects the family’s faith. Buddhist families write 往生 (“passed to rebirth”) or 安詳往生; Christian families write 蒙主寵召 (“called home by the Lord”) or 安息主懷; Catholic families may write 息勞歸主. A neutral choice that suits any family is 辭世 or 安詳辭世 (“passed away peacefully”).
A simple bilingual format
Most families we serve publish a short notice in both languages. A format that works well:
- Name in English and Chinese, with the dates of birth and death and the age.
- One paragraph in English about the person’s life: where they were born, when they came to the United States, their work, and what they loved.
- The family, in order: spouse, children and their spouses, grandchildren.
- The same content in Chinese, written naturally rather than translated word for word.
- The service schedule, with full addresses.
- The family’s wishes about flowers or donations.
Check the spelling of every name in both languages with an older relative before anything is published. Chinese names for the younger generation are the detail most often missed.
Where an obituary is published
Families share the news in several places at once: a notice on the funeral home’s website that can be sent by link, a message to relatives, and sometimes a printed notice in a Chinese-language or local newspaper. We prepare the obituary with the family and post it on our obituaries page when the family asks us to, in English, Chinese, or both.
Last reviewed October 2026 by Wah On Funeral Home.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 訃聞 and 訃告?
Both mean an obituary notice. 訃聞 is the usual term in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and 訃告 is more common in mainland China. The content is the same.
Should the age in a Chinese obituary be the Western age or the Chinese age?
Either is acceptable. Traditional notices often use the Chinese count, which is higher than the Western age. English text normally gives the Western age.
Does an obituary have to be in Chinese and English?
No. Many families publish in both so that every generation and every guest can read it, but one language is fine.
Not sure what your family needs?
Call us. We will listen and talk it through with you. There is no charge for a conversation.