How to say "killing" in Japanese

• 殺害さつがいCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'killing' as the act of taking a life, often with connotations of murder or unlawful violence. Typical in news reports and formal descriptions of someone being killed.
  彼かれらは王おうの殺害さつがいをたくらんでいる。↗

  They are plotting to kill the king.
• 殺しころしCommon
  nounMatches 'murder' and 'killing' in ordinary contexts, and can also mean a murderer. Natural in everyday speech and storytelling, e.g. talk of who committed a killing.
  一度いちど殺ころすと、殺ころしが楽たのしくなる。↗

  Once we've killed, we enjoy killing.
• 殺生せっしょうCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbRefers to killing in the sense of destruction of life itself, typically discussed as something to be avoided in Buddhist or ethical terms. Not the word for describing a specific murder or crime.

Use 殺害 for a killing as an act of taking someone's life, 「殺し」 for murder or a killer in everyday contexts, and 殺生 for killing as the destruction of life, especially in moral or religious discussion.

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

• 殺害さつがいkilling
• 殺しころしmurder
• 殺生せっしょうkilling
• キリングkilling
• 賊害ぞくがいharm
• 殺しごろし-cide
• 大勝ちおおがちgreat victory
• 殺処分さつしょぶんculling
• 一山ひとやまlarge profit