命(いのち)を絶(た)つ

いのちをたつ
expression
to end one's life; to take a life
formalexistence
1. to end one's life; to take one's own life; to kill
To bring about death, either one's own or another's. When used reflexively (自(みずか)ら命(いのち)を絶(た)つ), it is a euphemism for suicide. Can also refer to killing another person or creature.
自(みずか)ら命(いのち)を絶(た)った。
He took his own life.
若(わか)くして命(いのち)を絶(た)たれた。
His life was cut short at a young age.
多(おお)くの兵士(へいし)が戦場(せんじょう)で命(いのち)を絶(た)たれた。
Many soldiers lost their lives on the battlefield.

A literary and euphemistic expression for death. The construction 自(みずか)ら命(いのち)を絶(た)つ is a standard euphemism for suicide in Japanese news reporting and formal contexts.

Common patterns

  • 自(みずか)ら命(いのち)を絶(た)つ: to take one's own life (suicide)
  • 命(いのち)を絶(た)たれる: to have one's life taken (passive; killed by another)
  • 若(わか)い命(いのち)を絶(た)つ: to end a young life

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 自殺(じさつ) (to commit suicide)
general
Added 2026.4.8 4:16 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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