kill, murder, butcher, slice off, split, diminish, reduce, spoil
殺 centers on ending life or cutting something down: killing, murdering, or butchering. The extended senses of slicing off, splitting, diminishing, reducing, or spoiling all follow from the idea of cutting something short or lessening it.
殺 combines 杀 (a simplified form related to killing) and 殳 (a weapon or action), suggesting the act of killing or striking with a weapon. The exact historical development of the left component is uncertain, but the overall phono-semantic structure is clear.
The left side 杀 looks like a person being struck, and the right side 殳 is a hand holding a weapon. Picture a violent act of killing or cutting down.
For サツ, imagine a killer in a dark alley saying 'Satsu' as they strike: the sound 'Satsu' cues サツ while the weapon 殳 delivers the killing blow.
to kill; to slay; to murder; to slaughter
murder; killing; murderer
murder; homicide; manslaughter
suicide
killing; murder
assassination
slaughter; massacre
shooting to death
rush; flood; deluge
intent to kill; intent to murder; urge to kill; murderous impulse
murder; murderer
erasure; obliteration
killing and wounding; bloodshed
sterilization; sterilisation; disinfection; pasteurization
offset; offsetting each other; cancelling each other out; counterbalancing
death by shooting
killing by poisoning; killing with poison; poisoning (to death)
murder
strangling (to death); strangulation
double play
ignoring; disregarding; taking no notice of; refusing to comment on; turning a deaf ear to
thirst for blood; bloodlust; determination to kill
to stab to death
murder case
insecticide; pesticide