殺
kill · murder · butcher · slice off · split · diminish · reduce · spoil
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
杀 + weapon
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of weapon, tree, and cross. Striking with weapon.
Symbolism
Murder, kill, assassinate. Represents killing.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Ice crystals
Anime & Manga
暗殺教室
あんさつきょうしつ
Assassination Classroom(2012)
Author: Yusei Matsui
'Assassination' in the title; unique premise where students must assassinate their teacher.
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
生殺与奪
せいさつよだつ
(having) life-and-death power (over); (having) life-and-death power (over)
活殺自在
かっさつじざい
the power of life or death; the power of life or death
殺生禁断
せっしょうきんだん
prohibition against hunting and fishing; prohibition against hunting and fishing
一殺多生
いっさつたしょう
it is justifiable to kill one person to save the lives of many; it is justifiable to kill one person to save the lives of many
矯角殺牛
きょうかくさつぎゅう
trying to straighten the horns of a bull, and killing it in the process; trying to correct a small defect and ruining the whole thing; the cure is worse than the disease; trying to straighten the horns of a bull, and killing it in the process
Proverbs & Idioms
殺すと活かすは紙一重
ころすといかすはかみひとえ
To kill or let live is a hair's breadth
The line between ruin and success is thin