Translation guide
The English word 'sacrifice' covers giving up something valuable for a greater purpose, as well as the thing or person given up. In Japanese, different words and patterns are used depending on whether you are talking about personal sacrifice, ritual offerings, or metaphorical trade-offs.
Expressing personal sacrifice, such as time, money, or comfort, for someone else's benefit or a higher purpose.
The most common and versatile word for 'sacrifice' in the sense of giving up something valuable. Can be used for both concrete and abstract sacrifices.
彼は家族のために多くの犠牲を払った。
He made many sacrifices for his family.
成功には犠牲がつきものだ。
Sacrifice is part of success.
Verb phrase meaning 'to sacrifice something'. The object is marked with を.
彼は自分の時間を犠牲にしてボランティアをした。
He sacrificed his time to volunteer.
Self-sacrifice. Emphasizes giving up one's own interests or well-being.
彼女の自己犠牲には頭が下がる。
I take my hat off to her self-sacrifice.
Literally 'to shave one's body', meaning to make painful sacrifices, often financially or physically, for someone else.
親は身を削って子供を育てる。
Parents sacrifice themselves to raise their children.
Referring to an animal, object, or person offered to a deity in a religious context.
A living sacrifice, typically an animal or person offered to a god. Also used metaphorically for a scapegoat.
古代では生贄が捧げられた。
In ancient times, sacrifices were offered.
Can also be used for ritual sacrifice, but 生贄 is more specific for living offerings.
Offerings, often food or objects, presented to gods or spirits. Less about 'sacrifice' in the sense of loss and more about giving.
In games, business, or negotiations, sacrificing a piece or resource to gain a better position.
Used in chess, shogi, and business contexts for a tactical sacrifice.
彼は駒を犠牲にして攻撃を仕掛けた。
He sacrificed a piece to launch an attack.
A sacrificial piece in shogi or chess. Also used metaphorically for a person or thing sacrificed for a larger plan.
Acknowledging that achieving something requires giving up something else, often used in expressions like 'worth the sacrifice'.
Pattern: sacrifice A to gain B.
睡眠時間を犠牲にして試験に合格した。
I sacrificed sleep to pass the exam.
An unavoidable sacrifice. Used when the loss is regrettable but necessary.
それはやむを得ない犠牲だった。
That was an unavoidable sacrifice.
English speakers often say 'I sacrificed my lunch break' for small things. In Japanese, 犠牲 sounds too heavy for trivial matters. Use 〜をやめて (gave up) or 〜を我慢して (put up with) instead.
昼休みをやめて仕事をした。
I worked through my lunch break.
犠牲 is the general term for sacrifice, including abstract concepts. 生贄 specifically means a living sacrifice (human or animal) in a ritual context, and can imply a scapegoat. Use 生贄 only when the nuance of a living offering or victim is intended.
To offer a sacrifice to a god.
To offer offerings at a shrine.
He was used as a sacrificial pawn in that strategy.