退治・対治|たいじtaiji[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
退治退治 is the most common and standard form for extermination, elimination, eradication, or destruction, and is written entirely in kanji.
対治対治 is a rarely used kanji-only variant; learners will seldom need to choose it instead of 退治.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbextermination; elimination; eradication; destruction; suppression; subjugation; getting rid of; stamping out; wiping out; rooting out
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, Buddhismrenouncing worldly desires (in order to concentrate on Buddhist teachings)
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbcuring (an illness)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 退治する（たいじする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 退治します（たいじします） |
| Negative (nai) | 退治しない（たいじしない） |
| polite (masen) | 退治しません（たいじしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 退治せず・退治せぬ（たいじせず・たいじせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 退治した（たいじした） |
| polite (mashita) | 退治しました（たいじしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 退治しなかった（たいじしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 退治しませんでした（たいじしませんでした） |
| Te form | 退治して（たいじして） |
| Potential | 退治できる（たいじできる） |
| Passive | 退治される（たいじされる） |
| Causative | 退治させる（たいじさせる） |
| Causative passive | 退治させられる（たいじさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 退治すれば（たいじすれば） |
| tara | 退治したら（たいじしたら） |
| Volitional | 退治しよう（たいじしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 退治しましょう（たいじしましょう） |
| Imperative | 退治しろ（たいじしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym根絶こんぜつNeutralEradication, as in 「病気を根絶する」. Stresses wiping a problem out at its root; 「退治」 is mostly for pests and monsters and carries a folk flavor.
- Synonym掃討そうとうNeutralMopping up, as in 「残党を掃討する」. Used mainly in military and police contexts.
- Synonym撲滅ぼくめつNeutralEradication, as in 「暴力撲滅」 or 「麻薬撲滅運動」. Used mostly in the slogans of social campaigns.
- Synonym駆除くじょNeutralExterminating pests and vermin, as in 「害虫駆除」. Focuses on ridding a place of harmful creatures.
- Synonym駆逐くちくNeutralDriving out or expelling, as in 「悪貨は良貨を駆逐する」. Emphasizes chasing the target away rather than wiping it out.
- Synonym掃滅そうめつWrittenWiping out, as in 「敵を掃滅する」. A written, formal word used mainly in military contexts.
- Synonym撃滅げきめつNeutralDestroying an enemy in battle, as in 「敵艦隊を撃滅する」. Used mostly in military contexts.
- Synonym殲滅せんめつNeutralAnnihilation, as in 「敵を殲滅する」. Stresses leaving no one alive and is used mostly in military contexts; 「退治」 targets are typically pests and monsters.
- Synonym根絶やしねだやしNeutralRooting something out completely, as in 「悪を根絶やしにする」. A native Japanese word with a colloquial feel.
- Related全滅ぜんめつNeutralBeing wiped out or wiping everything out, as in 「チームが全滅する」. Works both intransitively and transitively, and focuses on the result.
- Related皆殺しみなごろしNeutralKilling every last one, as in 「一族を皆殺しにする」. Brutal in tone.
- Related鏖殺おうさつWrittenA written-style word for slaughtering every last person, as in 「鏖殺」. Rare; 「皆殺し」 is the usual word.
- Related覆滅ふくめつWrittenComplete overthrow or downfall, as in 「国家を覆滅する」. A rare written-style word.
Use 「退治」 for wiping out pests, villains, or monsters, as in 「ゴキブリ退治」 and 「鬼退治」. For pests and vermin say 「駆除」; for social campaigns, 「撲滅」; for eradicating at the root, 「根絶」; in military contexts, 「掃討」 or 「殲滅」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
