At first I learnt いなくなる as the polite version of 死んだ/死んでいる, then I realised it could also be used as a negative version of いる to indicate state of existing/being in a place. Then how do you potentially avoid having, E.g., "if 〇〇 is not around, then what would you do" vs "if 〇〇 is dead, then what would you do" confused?
1 Answer
It is nakunatta((亡くなった)) that means died....not inakunatta((いなくなった)). That is a polite way to say "he died"....かれは亡くなりました (nakunarimashita).
1....if your husband was not around, then what would you do? 。。。いなかったら
2....if your husband died, then what would you do?。。。なくなったら
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Since this answer doesn't actually directly address what it does mean, いなくなる (=いない + なる) actually means become not here, that is it means "to disappear", so "3....if your husband disappeared, then what would you do? 。。。いなくなったら"– FoogodNov 22, 2022 at 20:30