‘捐躯’ literally means ‘to donate one’s body’ — a highly formal and solemn expression meaning ‘to sacrifice one’s life,’ especially for a noble cause such as defending the country, upholding justice, or saving others. The character 捐 (juān) conveys voluntary giving or offering, while 躯 (qū) refers specifically to the physical body or mortal frame. Together, they form a compact, literary compound that emphasizes selfless, intentional surrender of life, not accidental death.

This term appears frequently in historical narratives, official commemorations, patriotic speeches, and memorial inscriptions. It carries deep respect and reverence, and is rarely used in casual conversation. Because of its gravity, it is almost always paired with contexts involving duty, honor, heroism, or national service — never for trivial or selfish ends. Learners should note that ‘捐躯’ is not interchangeable with neutral terms like ‘died’ or even ‘died bravely’; it implies conscious, principled martyrdom.