Translation guide
The Japanese term for ritual suicide by disembowelment, often used in historical or figurative contexts. In modern Japanese, 'seppuku' is more common for the formal act, while 'harakiri' can sound more colloquial or dramatic.
Referring to the historical Japanese practice of self-disembowelment as a form of honorable death.
The samurai performed harakiri to restore his honor. · He was sentenced to commit harakiri.
The formal, standard term for ritual suicide by disembowelment. Used in historical, literary, and serious contexts.
武士は切腹を命じられた。
The samurai was ordered to commit seppuku.
彼は責任を取って切腹した。
He took responsibility and committed seppuku.
A more colloquial and direct term for the same act. Can sound vulgar or dramatic. Often used in figurative speech or by non-Japanese speakers.
In modern Japanese, '切腹' is preferred for formal or historical reference. '腹切り' may be perceived as crude or overly direct.
腹切りは武士の名誉の死に方だった。
Harakiri was an honorable way of death for samurai.
Using 'harakiri' metaphorically to describe an act that leads to one's own downfall, especially in business or politics.
If we launch this product now, it'll be corporate harakiri. · His resignation was political harakiri.
Means 'self-destruction' or 'ruining oneself'. Used when someone's actions cause their own failure.
その政策は党の自滅を招いた。
That policy led to the party's harakiri.
彼の無謀な投資は自滅だった。
His reckless investment was harakiri.
Literally 'to cut one's belly', used figuratively to mean taking full responsibility or making a painful sacrifice, often in a corporate or political context.
A colloquial expression meaning 'a situation deserving of seppuku', i.e., a disgraceful failure. Often used hyperbolically.
こんなミスは切腹ものだ。
A mistake like this is harakiri-worthy.
切腹 (seppuku) is the formal, Sino-Japanese reading and is used in historical, literary, and official contexts. 腹切り (harakiri) is the native Japanese reading and can sound more direct, colloquial, or even vulgar. In English, 'harakiri' is the common loanword, but in Japanese, 切腹 is more appropriate for serious discussion.
When using 'harakiri' figuratively (e.g., 'political harakiri'), do not directly translate it as 腹切り unless you intend a dramatic or colloquial tone. Instead, use 自滅 (self-destruction) or 責任を取って辞任する (resign taking responsibility).
社長は不祥事の責任を取って腹を切った。
The president took responsibility for the scandal and committed harakiri (resigned).