1.
fatal wound, mortal injury
A wound or injury serious enough to cause death.
被害者は頭部に致命傷を負った。
The victim sustained a fatal wound to the head.
致命傷は背中の刺し傷だった。
The fatal wound was a stab wound in the back.
検死の結果、致命傷は一つだけだったことが判明した。
The autopsy revealed that there was only one fatal wound.
2.
fatal blow, decisive damage
Figuratively, a critical problem or setback that leads to the failure or downfall of a project, career, organization, or situation.
あのスキャンダルが致命傷になった。
That scandal became the fatal blow.
経営判断のミスが会社にとって致命傷となった。
A management misjudgment proved to be a fatal blow for the company.
選挙直前の失言が致命傷になりかねない。
A verbal gaffe right before the election could prove to be a fatal blow.
USAGE:
The literal sense (sense 1) appears in crime reports and medical contexts. The figurative sense (sense 2) is very common in news, business, and everyday conversation to describe something that causes irreparable damage.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 致命傷を負う: to sustain a fatal wound
- 致命傷になる: to become a fatal blow
- 致命傷を与える: to deal a fatal blow
RELATED:
- 致命的: fatal, lethal (na-adjective form, used more broadly as a modifier)