die prematurely

殤 is composed of 歹 (bad), a variant of 入 (enter), and 昜 (bright). 歹 is a pictograph of a cracked skull, representing death, while 入 is a pictograph of an arrowhead, implying sharpness or harm, and 昜 depicts the sun rising high and radiating light. Thus, 殤 conveys the idea that the sun’s intense heat is as sharp as an arrowhead, causing injury and death. A person who dies from such injury has not lived out their full lifespan, meaning premature death or dying young.