取とり殺ころす

と

り

こ

ろ

す

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

haunt to death; possess and kill

Used in supernatural contexts where a spirit or ghost torments a person until they die. Often appears in folklore or horror stories.

その幽ゆう霊れいは彼かれを取とり殺ころしたと言いわれている。
It is said that the ghost haunted him to death.
古ふるい屋や敷しきに住すむ者もの

は

、

悪あく

霊りょう

に

取と

り

殺ころ

さ

れる

と

いう

噂うわさ

だ

。

Rumor has it that those who live in the old mansion are possessed and killed by evil spirits.

Written forms

取とり殺ころすUsage36%
Standard kanji spelling for this compound verb.
とり殺ころすUsage55%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.
とりころすUsage9%
取とり殺ころす
Abbreviated kanji spelling; rarely used.

Kanji

取take, fetch, take up
殺kill, murder, butcher

Similar words

祟たたる
祟る means 'to curse' or 'to bring a curse upon', often causing misfortune or illness, but not necessarily death. 取り殺す specifically implies death as the result of haunting or possession.
殺ころす
殺す is the general verb 'to kill'. 取り殺す adds the nuance of killing through supernatural means (haunting/possession).

Etymology

Compound of 取り (tori, continuative form of 取る 'to take') + 殺す (korosu 'to kill'). The prefix 取り- can add a sense of thoroughness or forceful action, here implying 'to take and kill' or 'to kill by taking (possession of)'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is used in supernatural contexts.