Meaning and Usage
"殺人" (さつじん) specifically means "murder" or "homicide" in Japanese. It refers to the unlawful killing of a person by another. This word is formal and often used in legal, police, or news contexts.
Common Contexts
You will frequently encounter "殺人" in discussions about crime, court cases, or police investigations. It is a noun and often appears with words like 容疑 (suspect), 事件 (case), or 犯罪 (crime).
Collocations and Patterns
- 殺人事件 (さつじんじけん): murder case; used when referring to a specific crime.
- 殺人容疑 (さつじんようぎ): suspicion of murder; used in police or legal contexts.
- 殺人犯 (さつじんはん): murderer; the person who committed the murder.
- 殺人を犯す (さつじんをおかす): to commit murder; a common verb phrase.
Register and Nuance
This word is formal and serious. It is not used lightly or in casual conversation. When talking about killing in general or in fictional contexts, other words might be used, but "殺人" always implies a criminal act.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse "殺人" with "死ぬ" (to die) or "殺す" (to kill). Remember, "殺人" is a noun meaning "murder," not a verb. Use it when referring to the act or crime of murder, not just killing or dying.