Why you should be careful when using 西天 (xītiān)

In Buddhist funerals, a place called Sukhavati or "Western Paradise" is considered the favorable destination for a soul that is departing Earth. Different languages have various names for this "heaven" that we hope to go to. In Chinese, we call this place "西天" (xītiān). 

Just as with the English word for "hell," "西天 (xītiān) Western Paradise," can be used playfully with close friends, but may offend some strangers if you are not using it correctly.

How to use "西天 (xītiān)":

There is a fixed structure in Chinese on how to use "西天 (xītiān)." Nowadays, friends use it to tease each other. An example on how to use it is the phrase "send somebody to heaven," or as we say in English "meet your maker":

"送 + somebody +上西天 (sòng sb shàng xītiān)" means to "send somebody to heaven (Western Paradise).

Example:

Duìyú zhàyào, rúguǒ nǐ bù xiǎoxīn de huà, nà tā kě huì sòng nǐ shàng xītiān de.

对于炸药，如果你不小心的话，那它可会送你上西天的.

If you're careless with explosives they can blow you into the next world.

But, there's more!

Often, you can use another structure: 归 (guī) + 西天, means "pass away," or die.

Sometimes, this is abbreviated to "归西 (guīxī)."

However, this word should be used carefully. Do not use "归西" (guīxī) if you want to console the family or friends of someone who has recently passed away. It is considered very impolite, perhaps similar with the English "dropped dead" or "kicked the bucket." With friends, we generally use "归西 (guīxī)" only in jokes or when we meet some unlikable characters.

Examples:

1. Nà gè quēdé de nǚrén guīxī le, tīng dào zhè gè xiāoxī dàjiā dōu hěn gāoxìng.

那个缺德的女人归西了，听到这个消息大家都很高兴。

Everybody was very happy to hear that the wicked woman dropped dead.

2. Kělián de yuēhàn zài zhè cì bàozhà zhōng yímìngguīxī le.

可怜的约翰在这次爆炸中一命归西了。

Poor John went west in the explosion.

Source: echineselearning