粛清(しゅくせい)

しゅくせい
noun, suru-verb
purge; cleanup; elimination
1. purge; political elimination
The removal or elimination of people from an organization, especially for political reasons.
独裁者(どくさいしゃ)は反対派(はんたいは)を粛清(しゅくせい)した。
The dictator purged the opposition.
党内(とうない)で大規模(だいきぼ)な粛清(しゅくせい)が行(おこな)われた。
A large-scale purge was carried out within the party.
スターリン時代(じだい)の粛清(しゅくせい)で多(おお)くの人(ひと)が犠牲(ぎせい)になった。
Many people fell victim to the purges during the Stalin era.
彼(かれ)は粛清(しゅくせい)の対象(たいしょう)となり、失脚(しっきゃく)した。
He became a target of the purge and fell from power.
2. cleanup; eradication
Eliminating undesirable elements or corruption from an organization or system.
組織(そしき)の腐敗(ふはい)を粛清(しゅくせい)する。
To clean up the corruption in the organization.
社内(しゃない)の不正(ふせい)を粛清(しゅくせい)するための調査(ちょうさ)が始(はじ)まった。
An investigation to eliminate fraud within the company has begun.

USAGE:
Often used in political and historical contexts, particularly regarding authoritarian regimes. Can also be used more broadly for cleaning up corruption.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 粛清(しゅくせい)の嵐(あらし) - purge storm (wave of purges)
  • 政治的(せいじてき)粛清(しゅくせい) - political purge
  • 大粛清(だいしゅくせい) - Great Purge (historical)
  • 粛清(しゅくせい)対象(たいしょう) - target of a purge

HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
The term is frequently associated with the Stalinist purges (大粛清(だいしゅくせい)) and similar political cleansings in other countries.

general
Added 2026.1.23 8:40
07500/07875_shukusei