noun
living sacrifice; sacrificial offering
Refers to a human or animal offered alive to a deity, often in historical or ritual contexts. Can be used metaphorically for someone forced to give up their life or freedom for a cause.
古代では、神に生贄を捧げる習慣があった。
In ancient times, there was a custom of offering living sacrifices to the gods.
彼は戦争の生贄となった。
He became a sacrifice of war.
noun
Figurative use: a person who is made to suffer or take the blame for others, often unfairly. Common in phrases like 生贄になる (to be made a scapegoat).
彼は会社の不祥事の生贄にされた。
He was made the scapegoat for the company's scandal.
無実の人が生贄になるのは許せない。
It's unforgivable for an innocent person to be made a victim.
Ateji spelling; normally read ぎせい. Use only when the reading いけにえ is explicitly intended.
犠牲 (ぎせい) is the more common word for 'sacrifice' or 'victim' in modern Japanese, used in both literal and figurative contexts. 生贄 (いけにえ) specifically implies a living being offered in a ritual or a person scapegoated, carrying a stronger nuance of ritualistic or unjust victimization.
Compound of 生け (ike, 'alive', from verb 生ける) + 贄 (nie, 'offering to a god'). The kanji 贄 is a specific character for sacrificial offerings. The spelling 犠牲 is ateji, normally read ぎせい.