Translation guide
The person who carries out a death sentence. In Japanese, the term depends on context: historical, modern legal, or metaphorical. The most common word is 死刑執行人, but in historical settings 首切り役人 or 処刑人 are used. For metaphorical 'executioner' (one who ends something), 破壊者 or figurative expressions are more natural.
The person who carries out a death sentence in a modern legal context.
Standard term for an official executioner in a modern legal system. Neutral and formal.
死刑執行人は刑の執行を担当する。
The executioner is responsible for carrying out the sentence.
The person who executes criminals in historical contexts, often by beheading.
Literally 'head-cutting official'. Used for historical executioners, especially in samurai-era Japan.
首切り役人が罪人の首をはねた。
The executioner beheaded the criminal.
General term for executioner, often used in historical or dramatic contexts. Can also refer to a hitman in fiction.
中世の処刑人は町の外れに住んでいた。
The medieval executioner lived on the outskirts of town.
Specifically a beheader. Rare and literary.
斬首人が斧を振り下ろした。
The executioner swung the axe down.
A person or thing that brings about the end or destruction of something, often figuratively.
Literally 'destroyer'. Used metaphorically for someone who ruins or ends something.
彼はその計画の破壊者だった。
He was the executioner of the plan.
Literally 'one who ends it'. A more direct but less common metaphorical translation.
彼がその時代を終わらせる者となった。
He became the executioner of that era.
In English, 'executioner' can be used metaphorically (e.g., 'executioner of the plan'). Direct translation with 死刑執行人 would be unnatural. Use 破壊者 or rephrase with a verb like 終わらせる.