命(いのち)を絶(た)つ

いのちをたつ

expression

to end one's life; to take one's own life; to take a life

1. to end one's life; to take one's own life

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 were killed 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

自殺(じさつ)する: to commit suicide — the direct, clinical term
命(いのち)を落(お)とす: to lose one's life — neutral; does not imply intent
命(いのち)を奪(うば)う: to take someone's life — implies forceful killing by another

Related Words

Compare: 自殺(じさつ) (to commit suicide)

general

Added 2026.4.8 4:16 · Revised 2026.10.10 10:25

22500/22887_inochiwotatsu