Translation guide
The guillotine is a historical execution device. In Japanese, it is referred to by its French-derived name or described by its function. This entry covers how to talk about the guillotine itself, its use in executions, and related metaphorical expressions.
Referring to the guillotine as a physical object or historical device.
The most common term, borrowed from French. Used in historical and general contexts.
フランス革命ではギロチンが使われた。
The guillotine was used during the French Revolution.
Literally 'beheading platform'. More formal or descriptive, often used in historical texts.
断頭台の露と消えた。
He met his end on the guillotine.
Describing the act of executing someone with a guillotine.
Standard phrase meaning 'to guillotine (someone)'.
彼はギロチンにかけられた。
He was guillotined.
More formal: 'to execute by guillotine'.
革命政府は多くの貴族をギロチンで処刑した。
The revolutionary government executed many nobles by guillotine.
Using 'guillotine' metaphorically, e.g., a sudden cut or deadline.
The guillotine metaphor is not common in Japanese. Instead, use expressions like 'cut off' or 'deadline' depending on context.
予算がばっさり切られた。
The budget was guillotined (slashed).
提出期限は明日だ。
The guillotine (deadline) is tomorrow.
Literally 'the blade of the guillotine', sometimes used metaphorically for an impending doom, but rare.
ギロチンの刃が落ちるように、彼のキャリアは終わった。
His career ended like the fall of a guillotine blade.
English uses 'guillotine' metaphorically for deadlines or sudden cuts, but Japanese rarely does. Use natural Japanese expressions instead.