殺(ころ)し屋(や)

ころしや
noun
hitman; assassin; hired killer
1. hitman; assassin; hired killer; contract killer
A person who kills others for money or as a profession. Commonly encountered in crime fiction, movies, manga, and news about organized crime.
殺(ころ)し屋(や)を雇(やと)う。
To hire a hitman.
その映画(えいが)は伝説(でんせつ)の殺(ころ)し屋(や)の物語(ものがたり)だ。
That movie is the story of a legendary assassin.
組織(そしき)に裏切(うらぎ)られた殺(ころ)し屋(や)が復讐(ふくしゅう)に乗(の)り出(だ)すという筋書(すじが)きだ。
It's a plot about a hitman betrayed by the organization who sets out for revenge.

Compound of 殺(ころ)し (killing, from the verb 殺(ころ)す) + 屋(や) (person who does something as a profession, often with a negative connotation). The 屋(や) suffix here implies someone who does this as their trade.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 殺(ころ)し屋(や)を雇(やと)う: to hire a hitman
  • 殺(ころ)し屋(や)を差(さ)し向(む)ける: to send an assassin
  • 凄腕(すごうで)の殺(ころ)し屋(や): a skilled assassin
  • 伝説(でんせつ)の殺(ころ)し屋(や): a legendary hitman

USAGE:
Most commonly encountered in fiction (movies, novels, manga, anime) and occasionally in news about organized crime. Not a word used in polite or everyday conversation.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 暗殺者(あんさつしゃ): assassin — more formal; used for political assassination
  • 刺客(しかく): assassin — literary/historical; used in samurai or political contexts
general
Added 2026.4.3 5:25
21500/21665_koroshiya