Translation guide
The English verb "kill" covers a wide range of meanings, from causing death to stopping something or wasting time. This guide organizes the most useful Japanese expressions by intended meaning, with a focus on natural usage and common pitfalls.
To cause the death of a living being, intentionally or accidentally.
The most common and general verb for 'kill'. Can be used for people, animals, and figuratively. Transitive verb.
彼はその男を殺した。
He killed the man.
蚊を殺した。
I killed a mosquito.
Formal/written term for 'kill', often used in news or legal contexts. Implies intentional homicide.
容疑者は被害者を殺害したと自供した。
The suspect confessed to killing the victim.
Literally 'cause to die'. Can be used for accidental death or when the subject is not directly killing. Softer than 殺す.
Literary/poetic expression meaning 'take a life'. Used in dramatic or emotional contexts.
戦争は多くの命を奪った。
The war killed many people (took many lives).
To stop, cancel, or put an end to a process, plan, or activity.
Literally 'crush' or 'smash', but used idiomatically to mean 'kill' as in stop or waste. Often used with 時間 (time) or 話 (story/conversation).
To cause great pain, discomfort, or extreme tiredness.
To affect someone so strongly with an emotion (especially laughter) that they are helpless.
Literally 'laugh to kill', meaning to make someone laugh extremely hard. Often used in passive form.
彼の冗談には笑い殺された。
His joke killed me (I laughed so hard).
To finish a drink, especially an alcoholic one, often quickly.
Means 'to empty'. Used for finishing a drink. Can be used for 'kill a bottle'.
To defeat thoroughly, ruin, or destroy something non-living.
Using 殺す for 'kill' in the sense of stopping a plan or wasting time can sound like murder. Use context-appropriate verbs like つぶす, やめる, or 中止する.
時間を殺す ❌ → 時間をつぶす ✅
kill time
殺す is the everyday word for 'kill'. 殺害する is formal and used in news or legal contexts. In casual conversation, 殺す is natural; 殺害する would sound stiff.
彼は人を殺した。
He killed a person. (casual)
足が死ぬほど痛い。
My feet are killing me.
カフェで時間をつぶした。
I killed time at a café.
His carelessness killed her (caused her death).
時間をつぶすために本を読んだ。
I read a book to kill time.
彼の冗談が話をつぶした。
His joke killed the conversation.
General verb for 'stop' or 'quit'. Can be used when 'kill' means to stop an activity or plan.
Direct translation '殺された' sounds like murder. Use やめさせられた or 中止になった.
その計画はやめさせられた。
The plan was killed (they were forced to stop it).
Formal term for 'cancel' or 'call off'. Suitable for events, projects.
悪天候のため試合は中止になった。
The game was killed (cancelled) due to bad weather.
Means 'erase' or 'turn off'. Can be used for 'kill' in the sense of deleting or silencing something, like killing a sound or a light.
音量を消してください。
Please kill the volume.
I'm dead tired (killed by exhaustion).
Used figuratively in casual speech to mean 'kill' as in cause extreme discomfort or ruin something.
この靴、足を殺すよ。
These shoes are killing my feet.
Means 'laugh to death', similar hyperbolic expression.
その映画で死ぬほど笑った。
That movie killed me (I laughed to death).
ビールをもう一本空けよう。
Let's kill another beer.
Means 'drink up' or 'drain'. Emphasizes finishing completely.
彼はウイスキーを一気に飲み干した。
He killed the whiskey in one gulp.
Casual verb meaning 'beat' or 'defeat'. Can be used for 'kill' in games or competitions.
次のボスをやっつけよう。
Let's kill the next boss.
Means 'defeat' or 'overthrow'. Common in games and sports.
敵を倒した。
I killed the enemy.
Formal word for 'destroy'. Used for objects or systems.
その法案は委員会で破壊された。
The bill was killed in committee.
容疑者は人を殺害した。
The suspect killed a person. (news)
To express 'killing' in the sense of extreme pain, tiredness, or laughter, use 死ぬほど (to the point of dying) or compound verbs like 笑い殺す. These are very common in casual Japanese.
容疑者は人を殺害した。
The suspect killed a person. (news)
To express 'killing' in the sense of extreme pain, tiredness, or laughter, use 死ぬほど (to the point of dying) or compound verbs like 笑い殺す. These are very common in casual Japanese.