How to say "victim" in Japanese

• 犠牲者ぎせいしゃCommon
  nounCovers a victim as a person, especially one who was killed; also a casualty. Typical contexts are crimes, accidents and war, where the emphasis falls on loss of life or grave harm.
  戦争せんそうは多おおくの犠牲者ぎせいしゃを出だして終結しゅうけつした。↗

  The war ended with many victims.
• 被害者ひがいしゃCommon
  nounA victim as the party that suffered harm or loss, for instance from a crime or fraud; the injured party. The broad, neutral word when damage done to someone is the point.
  我々われわれは水害すいがいの被害者ひがいしゃに食物しょくもつと衣類いるいを支給しきゅうした。↗

  We provided the flood victims with food and clothing.
• 被災者ひさいしゃCommon
  nounA victim in the disaster sense: a person affected by an earthquake, flood or similar calamity. For 'victim' elsewhere — crime, fraud — this does not fit.
  ハリケーンの被災者ひさいしゃたちは、もう三みっ日かも食べ物たべものを口くちにしていない。↗

  The victims of the hurricane have not tasted food for three days.
• 犠牲ぎせいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThis is really the noun for sacrifice; as 'victim' it is an abbreviation, so when you mean the person — a victim or casualty — use the fuller 犠牲者.
  数千人すうせんにんがこの病気びょうきの犠牲ぎせいになった。↗

  Thousands of people became victims of this disease.
• 虜とりこCommon
  nounNot a victim of crime or disaster but a person captivated or enslaved by love, lust or a similar passion — figurative 'captive'.
  その音楽おんがくは全員ぜんいんをとりこにした。↗

  The music lured everyone.

Use 犠牲者 for victims killed or harmed, 被害者 for the injured party who suffered loss, 被災者 for disaster victims, 犠牲 for sacrifice as a concept, and 虜 figuratively for one enslaved by a passion.

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

• 犠牲者ぎせいしゃvictim (esp. someone killed)
• 被害者ひがいしゃvictim
• 被災者ひさいしゃperson affected by a disaster
• 害者がいしゃvictim (of a crime, esp. murder)
• 遭難者そうなんしゃvictim
• 殉難者じゅんなんしゃvictim
• ヴィクティムvictim
• 人身御供ひとみごくうhuman sacrifice
• 罹災者りさいしゃperson affected by a disaster
• 犠牲ぎせいvictim (esp. someone killed)
• 虜とりこvictim (of love, etc.)
• 食い物くいものprey
• 生贄いけにえvictim
• 餌食えじきvictim (of a crime, a hoax, etc.)
• 槍玉やりだまvictim