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命を捧げる (いのちをささげる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

命いのちを捧ささげる

い

の

ち

を

さ

さ

げ

る

Meanings

1

expression, ichidan verb

give one's life; devote one's life

Used for sacrificing one's life in battle or dedicating one's entire life to a cause or person. Often carries a solemn or dramatic tone.

彼かれは国くにのために命いのちを捧ささげた。
He gave his life for his country.
彼かの女じょは教きょう育いくに命いのちを捧ささげている。
She devotes her life to education.

Kanji

命fate, command, decree
捧lift up, give, offer

Similar words

命いのちを懸かける
命を懸ける means to risk one's life in a dangerous endeavor, while 命を捧げる implies a complete, often sacrificial dedication.
身みを捧ささげる
身を捧げる can mean to devote oneself physically or to give one's body, often with a nuance of personal sacrifice, but 命を捧げる specifically emphasizes giving one's life.

Etymology

Compound of 命 (life) + を (object marker) + 捧げる (to offer, dedicate). The verb 捧げる originally means to lift up and offer something to a deity or superior, and the expression extends this to offering one's life.