How to say "kill" in Japanese

• 殺すころすJLPT N3approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe general verb for killing a person or animal, by any means; it also covers 'murder' and 'slaughter'. When you simply mean 'to kill', this is the word to reach for.
  おまえはオレを殺ころそうとしている。↗

  You are trying to kill me.
• キルCommon
  nounThe loanword, heard mainly in video games for a kill counted in play. It is not the general verb for killing — for the act itself, 殺す is what you want.
• 打ち取るうちとるCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbTo slay with a weapon, striking an opponent down; it suits an enemy felled in battle or combat, not killing in general.
• 獲物えものJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA noun, not a verb: the animal that is hunted or caught — prey, game, the catch. It matches 'kill' only as a noun; for the action of killing you need a verb.
  ワシは獲物えものめがけて急降下きゅうこうかした。↗

  The eagle dived at its prey.
• 仕留めるしとめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbTo bring down and finish off a target — an animal in hunting or an opponent — covering 'shoot dead'; the killing is framed as deliberately downing the quarry.

Use 「殺す」 as the all-purpose verb for killing; 「仕留める」 for bringing down an animal or opponent, 「打ち取る」 for striking an enemy down with a weapon; 「キル」 is the gaming loanword, and 獲物 is the noun for prey.

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

• 殺すころすto kill
• キルkill
• 打ち取るうちとるto kill (with a weapon)
• 獲物えものprey
• 仕留めるしとめるto bring down (an animal, opponent, etc.)
• 枯らすからすto let dry
• 餌食えじきprey (i.e. of a predator)
• 弑するしいするto kill (one's master, king, father, etc.)
• ぶっ殺すぶっころすto kill
• 息の根を止めるいきのねをとめるto kill
• 亡き者にするなきものにするto kill
• ５６すころすto kill
• 血塗るちぬるto smear with blood
• 討ち果たすうちはたすto slay
• 死に至らしめるしにいたらしめるto cause someone's death
• 撃ち止めるうちとめるto shoot dead
• 倒すたおすto kill
• 除くのぞくto kill (a traitor, opponent, etc.)
• ばらすto kill
• 害するがいするto kill
• ぶち殺すぶちころすto kill
• 眠らすねむらすto kill
• 打ち止めるうちとめるto kill (with a gun, sword, etc.)
• 害すがいすto kill
• 眠らせるねむらせるto kill
• 〆るしめるto kill (fish, poultry, etc.)
• 死なせるしなせるto kill
• 散じるさんじるto chase away (e.g. one's worries)
• 散ずるさんずるto chase away (e.g. one's worries)
• 命を絶ついのちをたつto end a life
• やるto harm
• 消すけすto kill
• 締めるしめるto kill (fish, poultry, etc.)
• 潰すつぶすto butcher
• 片付けるかたづけるto do away with (someone)
• 伏せるふせるto bring (someone) down