Japanese word

犠牲者

Pronunciation

Romajigiseisha

Meaning

  • nounvictim

Example

この事故で犠牲者が出ました。ko no ji ko de gi sei sha ga de ma shi ta

The accident claimed a victim.

Illustration for 犠牲者 (victim)

More examples

事故の犠牲者を救うため、救助隊が夜通し活動しました。ji ko no gi sei sha o sukū ta me kyū jo tai ga yo dō shi katsu dō shi ma shi ta

The rescue team worked through the night to save the victims of the accident.

Core concept

Centers on a person who suffers harm or loss through an event, action, or situation.

Common phrases

  • 犠牲者を出すgi sei sha o da su

    cause casualties

  • 犠牲者が出るgi sei sha ga de ru

    result in casualties

  • 犠牲者を支援するgi sei sha o shi en su ru

    support victims

Similar words

被害者higaisha: A person who is harmed or suffers loss because of a crime, accident, or similar event.
被災者hisaisha: A person who suffers harm or loss as a result of a disaster.
遭難者sōnansha: A person who is lost, stranded, or otherwise in serious danger and needs rescue.

Definition in Japanese

事故や災害、犯罪などによって、被害を受けたり命を失ったりした人。ji ko ya sai gai han zai na do ni yo tte hi gai o u ke ta ri inochi o ushina tta ri shi ta hito

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese word 犠牲者 (giseisha, "victim") joins 犠牲 (gisei, "sacrifice") with 者 (sha, "person"); 犠 (gi, "sacrifice") and 牲 (sei, "sacrificial animal") give 犠牲 its original sense.

Usage tips

  • In English, victim does not necessarily mean a dead person, because the word also covers someone who is injured, deceived, or otherwise harmed.

Other meanings

  • casualtynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word