Translation guide
The English word "slaughter" can refer to killing animals for food, killing many people violently, or a crushing defeat. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each meaning.
To express the act of killing animals for food, especially in a systematic or commercial context.
The standard term for slaughtering animals for meat. Often used in agricultural or industrial contexts.
牛の屠殺は厳しい規制の下で行われる。
The slaughter of cattle is carried out under strict regulations.
Similar to 屠殺, but specifically refers to slaughtering livestock. Slightly more formal or technical.
畜殺場で働いている。
I work at a slaughterhouse.
General verb meaning 'to kill'. Can be used for animals but is less specific than 屠殺. Often used in everyday speech.
Using 殺す for animal slaughter can sound blunt or harsh; 屠殺 is preferred in formal contexts.
鶏を殺して料理する。
I kill and cook the chicken.
To describe the violent killing of a large number of people, often in a massacre or genocide.
The most common term for massacre or slaughter of people. Implies cruelty and large numbers.
その村では住民の虐殺が行われた。
A massacre of the villagers took place.
Emphasizes the scale of the slaughter; 'great massacre' or 'holocaust'.
A literary or formal term for slaughter or carnage. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
Literally 'kill everyone'; a massacre or wholesale slaughter. Can be used figuratively.
To describe a one-sided, overwhelming defeat, often used figuratively.
To win by a crushing margin. Used when one side overwhelmingly defeats the other. The focus is on the winner.
This phrase describes the winner's action, not the loser's state. To describe being slaughtered, use 惨敗する.
我がチームは相手を圧勝した。
Our team slaughtered the opponents.
To suffer a crushing defeat; to be slaughtered. Focuses on the loser.
そのチームは決勝で惨敗した。
The team was slaughtered in the finals.
Colloquial term for a terrible loss; to be beaten badly. Similar to 'get slaughtered' in casual English.
昨日の試合はボロ負けだった。
We got slaughtered in yesterday's game.
To be completely defeated; a clean loss. Slightly more formal than 惨敗.
我々は完敗を喫した。
We suffered a complete slaughter.
屠殺 is used exclusively for killing animals for food, while 虐殺 is used for the brutal killing of people. Do not confuse them.
When referring to a crushing defeat, do not use 屠殺 or 虐殺. Use sports-specific terms like 惨敗 or 圧勝.
歴史的な大虐殺を忘れてはいけない。
We must not forget the historical massacre.
戦場は殺戮の場と化した。
The battlefield turned into a scene of slaughter.
敵を皆殺しにした。
They slaughtered all the enemies.