Japanese word

殺人事件

Pronunciation

Romajisatsujinjiken

Meaning

  • nounmurder case

Example

警察は殺人事件を調べています。kei satsu wa satsu jin ji ken o shira be te i ma su

The police are investigating a murder case.

Illustration for 殺人事件 (murder case)

More examples

近所で殺人事件が起きたと、ニュースで知りました。kin jo de satsu jin ji ken ga o ki ta to nyū su de shi ri ma shi ta

I learned from the news that a murder case had occurred nearby.

Core concept

A murder case concerns a person's unlawful death and the official investigation to determine what happened and who is responsible.

Common phrases

  • 殺人事件が起きるsatsu jin ji ken ga o ki ru

    a murder takes place

  • 殺人事件を捜査するsatsu jin ji ken o sō sa su ru

    investigate a murder case

  • 殺人事件の容疑者satsu jin ji ken no yō gi sha

    suspect in a murder case

Definition in Japanese

人を殺したことについて、捜査や裁判の対象となる事件。hito o koro shi ta ko to ni tsu i te sō sa ya sai ban no tai shō to na ru ji ken

Word origin

殺人 (satsujin, "murder") is formed from 殺 (satsu, "kill") and 人 (jin, "person"), and 事件 (jiken, "case or incident") identifies the matter as an incident or case.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use murder case for a real legal matter and murder mystery for a fictional story built around solving a killing.

Word lists with this word