戦犯

• Reading: せんぱん
• Romaji: senpan
• Kanji breakdown: 戦 (war/battle) + 犯 (criminal) → war criminal, the player who caused the team's defeat
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.paɴ/

Meaning

The player who caused the team to lose — literally 'war criminal,' used to assign blame for a team's defeat.

Originally meaning 'war criminal' from the WWII context, 戦犯 has been repurposed in gaming as a harsh label for the player most responsible for a team loss. While common in gaming circles, it is a loaded term that can cause real emotional distress. Using it toward others is considered toxic behavior, though self-deprecating usage (俺が戦犯だ — 'I was the war criminal') is common and more accepted.

Examples

1. 最後のミスで負けたから完全に俺が戦犯だわ。 That last mistake cost us the game, so I'm totally the one to blame.
2. 戦犯扱いされるのが怖くてランクマ行けない。 I'm too scared of getting blamed for the loss to even play ranked.
3. 味方を戦犯呼ばわりするのはやめようよ。 Can we stop calling teammates the reason we lost?

Usage Guide

Context: team games, competitive gaming, gaming forums

Tone: self-deprecating or accusatory

Do Say

• 今の試合は俺が戦犯だった、ごめん (I was the reason we lost that match, sorry)
• 戦犯探しより反省会のほうが建設的だよ (Looking for what we can improve is more productive than assigning blame)

Don't Say

• 味方に「戦犯」と直接言うのは絶対ダメ (Never directly call a teammate the 戦犯 — it's extremely hurtful)

Common Mistakes

• Calling teammates 戦犯 directly — this is considered toxic and can get you reported or muted
• Not understanding the weight of the term — it derives from actual war crime trials and carries a strong accusatory tone

Origin & History

Originally meaning 'war criminal' from post-WWII tribunals. Repurposed in gaming culture since the 2000s to blame the player most responsible for a team loss.

Cultural Context

Era: 2000s team game culture

Generation: Team game players

Social background: Gaming community

Regional notes: Used nationwide in team gaming. Self-deprecating usage is common and accepted, but directing it at others is toxic.