Translation guide
The removal of testicles, either as a medical procedure, for animal control, or as a historical practice. Japanese has distinct terms for medical, veterinary, and historical contexts.
Surgical removal of testicles for medical reasons (e.g., cancer treatment).
General medical term for castration of males. Can also refer to animals.
He underwent castration surgery as part of his prostate cancer treatment.
Technical medical term: orchiectomy. Used in clinical settings.
Orchiectomy is a standard treatment for testicular cancer.
Neutering male animals, typically livestock or pets.
Castration of males for social roles such as eunuchs, guards of harems, or singers (castrati).
Use of medication to suppress testosterone production, often for sex offenders.
Standard term for chemical castration.
Chemical castration for sex offenders is being debated.
In everyday conversation about pets, English speakers often say 'neuter' or 'fix'. In Japanese, 去勢 is the standard term but can sound clinical. For pets, you may hear 手術 (しゅじゅつ, surgery) used euphemistically, e.g., 避妊手術 (ひにんしゅじゅつ) for spaying and 去勢手術 for neutering. However, 去勢 is not offensive and is widely understood.
Sima Qian was subjected to castration as a punishment.