How to say "fatal" in Japanese

• 致命ちめいCommon
  nounMeans 'fatal' but mainly appears inside set expressions rather than alone; on its own it is seldom the word you want — for the adjective, use 致命的 instead.
• 致死ちしCommon
  no-adjectiveMeans 'lethal' in the literal sense of causing death; a technical term found mainly in medical and scientific writing, not the word you reach for when 'fatal' describes a mistake.
• 命取りいのちとりCommon
  no-adjectiveA noun for something that costs a person their life, such as a single mistake or wound that proves fatal; it can also figuratively spell ruin for a career or undertaking.
  その間違まちがいが彼かれの命取いのちとりとなった。↗

  The mistake cost him his head.
• 致命的ちめいてきCommon
  na-adjectiveThe adjective to use when 'fatal' modifies a noun, as in a fatal error, flaw or injury; it works for both literal lethality and figurative cases like a mistake fatal to a plan.
  そのスキャンダルは彼かれの政治的せいじてき将来しょうらいに致命的ちめいてきであった。↗

  The scandal was fatal to his political future.

Use 致命的 for the adjective 'fatal'; 致命 and 致死 are technical elements mainly seen in set expressions, and 「命取り」 is a noun for something that proves fatal, often a costly mistake.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 致命ちめいfatal
• 致死ちしlethal
• 命取りいのちとりfatal
• 致命的ちめいてきfatal
• フェータルfatal
• 致死的ちしてきlethal