Korean word

자살

Pronunciation

Romanizationchasal

Meaning

  • nounsuicide

Example

그녀는 친구의 자살 소식에 큰 충격을 받았다.keu nyeo neun chin gu ui cha sal so si ge keun chung gyeo geul pa dat tta

She was deeply shocked by the news of her friend's suicide.

Illustration for 자살 (suicide)

More examples

그는 자살 충동을 느껴 상담소를 찾았다.keu neun cha sal chung dong eul neu kkyeo sang dam so reul cha jat tta

He felt an urge to commit suicide and sought help at a counseling center.

Core concept

The deliberate ending of one's own life.

Common phrases

  • 자살 시도cha sal si do

    attempted suicide

  • 자살 예방cha sal ye bang

    suicide prevention

  • 자살 충동cha sal chung dong

    suicidal urge

Similar words

자살 시도chasal sido: An attempt to end one's life that does not result in death.
자해chahae: Purposely causing injury to one's own body, with no necessary wish to die.
자살 충동chasal chungdong: A powerful feeling that urges a person to end their own life.
타살tasal: A person's death at the hands of someone else.

Definition in Korean

스스로 목숨을 끝내는 것seu seu ro mok ssu meul kkeun nae neun keot

Word origin

This Sino-Korean word comes from characters meaning self and kill, giving it the direct sense of ending one's own life.

Usage tips

  • This word is used in serious contexts such as news reports and official records, so casual use can sound insensitive.

Opposites

Related words

  • 자살예방chasaryebangsuicide preventionnoun
  • 자살률chasallyulsuicide ratenoun
  • 자살사건chasalsageonsuicide incidentnoun

Word lists with this word