殺
殺·kill
- On-yomi
- サツ
- Kun-yomi
- ころす
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 殺す | ころす | to kill |
| 殺人 | さつじん | murder |
| 自殺 | じさつ | suicide |
| 暗殺 | あんさつ | assassination |
Example sentences
虫を殺さないでください。
むしをころさないでください。
Please don't kill the insects.
昨日、町で殺人事件があった。
きのう、まちでさつじんじけんがあった。
There was a murder case in town yesterday.
彼は声を殺して泣いていた。
かれはこえをころしてないていた。
He was crying with his voice stifled.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Reading 自殺 as じさい
- 声を殺す and 息を殺す mean to stifle a voice or hold your breath — nothing is being killed
Memory aid
Picture it
殳 on the right is a hand raising a weapon — one strike and it is over.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 殺 mean?