How to say "sacrifice" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 犠牲ぎせいnounThe core word for sacrifice in the sense of giving up something valuable, often for another person or a greater cause. It covers both the abstract idea and concrete losses, as in sacrifice of life or comfort.
- 供えるそなえるichidan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to offer or dedicate something, as at an altar or shrine; 'to sacrifice' is only one of its senses. It suits ritual or religious offering rather than sacrifice in everyday or abstract senses.
- 犠打ぎだnounStrictly the baseball term for a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly. It is not a general word for sacrifice and is essentially limited to the sports context.
- 身代わりみがわりnounMeans a substitute or stand-in for someone else, and by extension a scapegoat. Use it when one person takes another's place or bears the burden instead, not for sacrifice of possessions or ideals.
- 代価だいかnounMeans the price or cost paid to obtain or achieve something; 'sacrifice' is a secondary sense. It fits when sacrifice is framed as what something costs you, as in success at great cost.
Use 犠牲 for giving up something valued, 「供える」 for ritual offerings, 犠打 for the baseball play, 「身代わり」 for standing in for someone, and 代価 for the price paid for achievement.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 犠牲ぎせいsacrifice
- 供えるそなえるto offer
- 犠打ぎだsacrifice (bunt or fly)
- 身代わりみがわりsubstitution (for someone else)
- サクリファイスsacrifice
- 供犠くぎsacrifice
- 捧げ物ささげものoffering
- 棒に振るぼうにふるto waste
- 生贄いけにえ(living) sacrifice
- 捧げるささげるto devote
- 差し出すさしだすto sacrifice
- 投げ出すなげだすto give freely
- 捨て石すていしsacrifice (of oneself, one's career, etc.)
- 代価だいかprice (of achieving something)
- 贄にえsacrifice
- 捨て駒すてごまsacrifice
- 捧ぐささぐto devote
- 捨てるすてるto sacrifice (stones)
See also
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