Translation guide
The act of completely destroying or killing a group of living things, especially pests or enemies. In Japanese, the most common and versatile word is 駆除 (kujo), used for pest control. For total annihilation, especially in war or metaphorically, 絶滅 (zetsumetsu) is used. Other terms have specific contexts like fumigation or eradication.
To eliminate insects, rodents, or other unwanted creatures from a place.
The standard term for pest extermination. Used for insects, rats, etc. Often seen on signs and in services.
ゴキブリの駆除をお願いします。
I'd like to request cockroach extermination.
このスプレーは害虫駆除に効果的です。
This spray is effective for pest extermination.
Often used for exterminating pests in a more casual or heroic sense, like 'slaying' monsters or pests. Common in product names.
アリ退治の薬を買ってきた。
I bought some ant extermination poison.
Technical term for pest control, often used in agriculture or public health. Implies prevention and control rather than just elimination.
病害虫の防除対策が必要だ。
Pest control measures are necessary.
To wipe out an entire species, group, or population, often in a dramatic or total sense.
Means extinction or total annihilation. Used for species, but also metaphorically for wiping out enemies or ideas.
その種は絶滅の危機に瀕している。
The species is on the verge of extermination.
敵を絶滅させるつもりだ。
We intend to exterminate the enemy.
Eradication, rooting out completely. Often used for diseases, social evils, or deeply entrenched problems.
Military term for annihilation, wiping out enemy forces completely. Strong and somewhat literary.
To exterminate pests using gas or chemicals, often in a sealed environment.
Fumigation. Specifically refers to extermination by gas or smoke. Used for warehouses, ships, or agricultural products.
輸入木材は燻蒸処理が必要です。
Imported timber requires fumigation treatment.
Gas fumigation. More specific than 燻蒸, emphasizing the use of gas.
ガス燻蒸でシロアリを駆除する。
Exterminate termites by gas fumigation.
The deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group.
Massacre, slaughter. Often used for brutal killing of many people.
住民の虐殺が行われた。
The extermination of the inhabitants was carried out.
駆除 is the standard, neutral term for pest control, often used in official or commercial contexts. 退治 has a more active, almost heroic nuance, like 'slaying' pests, and is common in everyday speech and product names (e.g., ゴキブリ退治).
駆除業者を呼んだ。
I called an exterminator.
自分でネズミ退治をした。
I exterminated the rats myself.
Do not use 絶滅 for common pest extermination. 絶滅 implies total extinction of a species, which sounds overly dramatic for household pests. Use 駆除 instead.
ゴキブリを絶滅させる
to exterminate cockroaches (sounds like wiping out the entire species)
ゴキブリを駆除する
to exterminate cockroaches (natural)
天然痘は根絶された。
Smallpox has been exterminated.
敵軍を殲滅した。
They annihilated the enemy army.
Genocide or mass extermination. Literally 'large-scale massacre'.
それは大量虐殺の歴史だ。
That is a history of extermination.
Specifically refers to the Holocaust. Used as a loanword.
ホロコーストの生存者
Holocaust survivor