How to say "suicide" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 自殺じさつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe plain, neutral word for suicide in any sense; use it unless the means of death or the framing of the act matters. It fits news reports and ordinary discussion alike.
- 自害じがいnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbSuicide carried out with a blade, gun, or similar means; the word foregrounds the method. Use it when how the person died matters; for suicide in general, 自殺 is the usual choice.
- 自決じけつnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbSuicide presented as a deliberate, resolute choice rather than a mere death; often found in military or historical narratives. For neutral reference to suicide, 自殺 is the usual word.
Use 自殺 as the neutral, all-purpose word for suicide; choose 自害 when the act is carried out with a blade, gun, or similar means; 自決 frames the death as a resolute decision, often in military or historical narratives.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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