致命傷(ちめいしょう)

ちめいしょう
noun
fatal wound, mortal blow
1. fatal wound, mortal injury
A wound or injury serious enough to cause death.
被害者(ひがいしゃ)は頭部(とうぶ)に致命傷(ちめいしょう)を負(お)った。
The victim sustained a fatal wound to the head.
致命傷(ちめいしょう)は背中(せなか)の刺(さ)し傷(きず)だった。
The fatal wound was a stab wound in the back.
検死(けんし)の結果(けっか)、致命傷(ちめいしょう)は一(ひと)つだけだったことが判明(はんめい)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(ちめいしょう)になった。
That scandal became the fatal blow.
経営(けいえい)判断(はんだん)のミスが会社(かいしゃ)にとって致命傷(ちめいしょう)となった。
A management misjudgment proved to be a fatal blow for the company.
選挙(せんきょ)直前(ちょくぜん)の失言(しつげん)が致命傷(ちめいしょう)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

Related words

Related Words

Related: 致命的(ちめいてき) (fatal, lethal (adjective))
Compare: 決定打(けっていだ) (decisive blow)
general
Added 2026.2.27 17:31 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13980_chimeishou