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仕留める (しとめる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 20,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
ichidan verb, transitive verb
bring down ; kill ; shoot dead
Used for hunting, combat, or decisive takedowns. Implies a clean, final shot or strike that finishes the target. Often used with firearms or bows, but can apply to any lethal finishing blow.
敵てき
の
兵へい
士し
を
確かく
実じつ
に
仕し
留と
める
。
To kill an enemy soldier without fail.
Written forms 仕し 留と める Usage 76%
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and everyday writing.
しとめる Usage 24%
為し 留と める
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
Similar words 倒たお す 倒す is a general verb for knocking down or defeating, not necessarily lethal. 仕留める specifically implies a fatal or decisive finishing blow.
殺ころ す 殺す is the general word for 'kill'. 仕留める adds a nuance of skill, finality, and often a projectile or hunting context.
Etymology Compound of 仕 (し, continuative form of する 'to do') + 留める (とめる, 'to stop, fix'). Literally 'to do-stop', i.e., to bring something to a final stop. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with the meaning of finishing off prey or an opponent.
