自殺

• Reading: じさつ
• Romaji: jisatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 自 (ji) — self; 殺 (satsu/korosu) — to kill
• Pronunciation: /dʑi.sa.tsɯ/

Meaning

Suicide. The act of intentionally taking one's own life.

A する verb (自殺する — to commit suicide). This is a serious and sensitive topic handled carefully in Japanese media and conversation. Japanese news often uses euphemisms, and discussion of 自殺 is approached with gravity. The word appears in news, legal, and medical contexts.

Examples

1. 自殺の予防について社会全体で考えるべきだ。 Society as a whole should think about suicide prevention.
2. 若者の自殺率が増えていることが問題になっている。 The rising suicide rate among young people has become a serious issue.
3. 彼は友人の自殺を防ごうと必死に説得した。 He desperately tried to talk his friend out of committing suicide.

Usage Guide

Context: news, medical, social issues

Tone: grave

Origin & History

Compound of 自 (ji, self) and 殺 (satsu, to kill). Literally 'self-killing,' a direct Sino-Japanese compound describing the act.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal