暗殺

• Reading: あんさつ
• Romaji: ansatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 暗 (an) — dark, secret; 殺 (satsu) — kill, murder
• Pronunciation: /an.sa.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Assassination. The deliberate killing of a prominent or political figure.

A noun that also functions as a する verb (暗殺する — to assassinate). Used exclusively for politically or ideologically motivated killings of leaders, officials, or public figures. Distinct from 殺人 (general murder) or 殺害 (killing) by its political motive. Appears frequently in historical texts, news, and fiction.

Examples

1. 19世紀のヨーロッパでは、政治指導者の暗殺が相次いだ。 In 19th-century Europe, assassinations of political leaders occurred in rapid succession.
2. 元首相が暗殺されたというニュースは、国内外に衝撃を与えた。 The news that the former prime minister had been assassinated shocked both the domestic and international community.
3. 彼はその暗殺計画に加担したとして、終身刑を宣告された。 He was sentenced to life imprisonment for his involvement in the assassination plot.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, history, crime, journalism

Tone: negative

Origin & History

From 暗 (an, dark/secret) and 殺 (satsu, killing). A Sino-Japanese compound evoking the secrecy of the act. The word has been in use since classical Chinese texts and was widely adopted in Japanese from the Meiji era onward.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal