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責め苛む (せめさいなむ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
godan verb (-mu), transitive verb
torture ; persecute ; torment relentlessly
Strong, literary verb implying sustained, cruel treatment that causes severe mental or physical suffering. Often used in serious contexts like abuse, bullying, or oppression.
に
責せ
め
苛さいな
ま
れ
た
。
The prisoners were tortured by the enemy.
Written forms 責せ め 苛さいな む Usage 42%
Standard kanji spelling; 苛む is a relatively rare kanji but used in this compound.
責せ めさいなむ Usage 58%
Mixed kana spelling that avoids the uncommon kanji 苛.
Kanji 苛 torment, scold, chastise Similar words 苛さいな む 苛む alone also means 'to torment' or 'to torture', but 責め苛む emphasizes the act of blaming or attacking while tormenting.
苦くる しめる 苦しめる is a more common, general word for causing pain or suffering, while 責め苛む is more intense and literary, implying relentless persecution.
Etymology Compound of 責め (continuative form of 責める 'to blame, to torture') and 苛む ('to torment, to torture'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination intensifies the meaning of relentless persecution.
