Translation guide
The act of cutting open the abdomen and removing the internal organs, often associated with ritual suicide (seppuku) in Japanese culture, but also used in medical, violent, or metaphorical contexts.
The historical Japanese practice of honorable self-disembowelment, often part of seppuku.
The standard term for ritual disembowelment as a form of honorable suicide in samurai culture. Often translated as 'hara-kiri' in English, but 切腹 is the formal Japanese term.
彼は切腹して果てた。
He died by seppuku.
A more colloquial term for ritual suicide by cutting the abdomen. Often used in English as 'hara-kiri', but in Japanese it can sound less formal than 切腹.
腹切りは武士の名誉の死に方だった。
Hara-kiri was an honorable way of death for samurai.
Disembowelment as a result of violence, accident, or murder, not ritualistic.
Literally 'to tear/split the belly'. Describes the violent act of cutting open the abdomen, often in a non-ritual context.
犯人は被害者の腹を裂いた。
The criminal slit open the victim's abdomen.
A more intense version of 腹を裂く, emphasizing the cutting and tearing action.
獣が獲物の腹を切り裂いた。
The beast ripped open its prey's belly.
Medical term for laparotomy or surgical opening of the abdomen. Not typically used for violent disembowelment, but can appear in forensic contexts.
Using 'disembowelment' to mean ruining something from the inside, exposing its inner workings, or completely dismantling it.
Means 'to expose the inside' or 'to lay bare the inner workings'. Used metaphorically for revealing secrets or dismantling an organization.
その記事は組織の内部を暴いた。
The article disemboweled the organization (exposed its inner workings).
Means 'to dismantle' or 'take apart'. Can be used figuratively for destroying a system or structure.
新CEOは会社を解体した。
The new CEO disemboweled the company (dismantled it).
English 'disembowelment' is often used figuratively (e.g., 'the investigation disemboweled the corporation'). In Japanese, direct translations like 腹を裂く sound violent and literal. Use phrases like 内部を暴く or 解体する for metaphorical meanings.
Both refer to ritual suicide by cutting the abdomen. 切腹 (seppuku) is the formal, historical term used in official contexts. 腹切り (hara-kiri) is more colloquial and can be considered vulgar or less respectful. In modern Japanese, 切腹 is preferred when discussing the historical practice.
検死の結果、開腹されていたことがわかった。
The autopsy revealed that the abdomen had been opened.