Explore 殺 in words about killing and hygiene. Learn each reading with the whole word.
The idea
殺 has 10 strokes; follow the linked diagram. 殺す is ころす, 殺人 is さつじん, and 殺菌 is さっきん. The small っ marks a held consonant.
| Japanese word | Reading |
|---|---|
| 殺す | ころす |
| 殺人 | さつじん |
| 殺菌 | さっきん |
Examples
- 探偵は殺人を調べています。The detective investigates the murder.
- この消毒液は菌を殺します。This disinfectant kills bacteria.
- 手を洗って、消毒してください。Wash your hands and disinfect them.
- その物語は竜を殺した人の話です。The story is about someone who killed a dragon.
- 警察は殺人の容疑者を逮捕しました。The police arrested a murder suspect.
- 熱は菌を殺します。Heat kills the bacteria.
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No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
殺す means to kill and takes the thing killed with を; 死ぬ means to die. 殺菌 concerns killing germs, while 消毒 means disinfection.
Try it yourself
Write the reading of 殺す in hiragana.
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ころす
殺す is ころす: the verb means to kill.
Write the reading of 殺人 in hiragana.
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さつじん
殺人 is さつじん, meaning murder or homicide.
Choose the missing kanji: ＿人（さつじん）［殺／死］.
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殺
殺 completes 殺人（さつじん）; 死人（しにん） means a dead person.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
Write the reading of 殺す in hiragana.
Write the reading of 殺人 in hiragana.
Choose the missing kanji: ＿人（さつじん）［殺／死］.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Write 殺 using the diagram, then cover the table and read 殺す and 殺人 aloud. Make a sentence with one word.