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首を落とす (くびをおとす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

首くびを落おとす

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-su)

behead; decapitate

Literal or figurative expression for cutting off someone's head. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.

処しょ刑けい人にんは罪ざい人にんの首くびを落おとした。
The executioner beheaded the criminal.
その武ぶ将しょうは敵てき将しょう

の

首くび

を

落お

とし

た

。

The warlord decapitated the enemy commander.

Kanji

首neck, counter for songs and poems
落fall, drop, come down

Similar words

斬ざん首しゅ
斬首 is a more formal, Sino-Japanese term for beheading, often used in legal or historical contexts, while 首を落とす is a more vivid, colloquial expression.

Etymology

Compound of 首 (くび, 'neck' or 'head') + を (object marker) + 落とす (おとす, 'to drop' or 'to let fall'), literally 'to drop the head'. The expression is straightforward and its origin is transparent.