致命的(ちめいてき)

致命的(ちめいてき) is a na-adjective formed from 致命(ちめい) (causing death) + 的(てき) (adjectival suffix). While it can describe literally fatal situations, the figurative usage (critical flaw, devastating problem) is more common in everyday speech.

Common collocations

• 致命的(ちめいてき)なミス (a fatal mistake)
• 致命的(ちめいてき)な欠陥(けっかん) (a critical defect)
• 致命的(ちめいてき)な打撃(だげき) (a devastating blow)
• 致命的(ちめいてき)な弱点(じゃくてん) (a fatal weakness)
• 致命的(ちめいてき)な傷(きず) (a fatal wound)

Usage

In computing and technology, 致命的(ちめいてき)なエラー is the standard translation for "fatal error." The word is very common in business and news contexts to describe problems that could cause irreversible damage.