I know that "to pass away" is the polite synonym for "to die". What is the polite synonym for "to be alive"?
I want to use it for the A's sentence in the following conversation:
A: Is your grandfather still alive?
B: No, he passed away last year.
Update:
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I'm asking this question because I think if I ask someone this kind of touching question, they might consider it offensive and even reply me:"Did you expect him to be dead?". So I thought maybe there would be a better way for asking such questions on somebody's condition in terms of being alive or dead.
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In eastern cultures including Iranian culture, there are honorific terms that should be used (as social etiquettes) when we are talking to/ about a person who is above us in terms of his/ her age (like a grandfather/ grandmother) or his/ her social position (a king/ a queen/ a president/ a boss, etc).
Best Answer
I would use "still with us":
Others may make alternate suggestions.