Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 大虐殺 | daigyakusatsu | [ta̠iɡʲa̠kɯ̟̊sa̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 修羅 | shura | [ɕɨɾa̠] (narrow) |
The term 大虐殺 is the standard word used in historical or journalistic contexts to describe a massacre or genocide. In contrast, 修羅 is used to describe a state of constant, chaotic carnage or a scene of violent conflict, often carrying a mythological or metaphorical connotation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 大虐殺 is composed of the characters 大 (big/great), 虐 (cruelty/persecution) and 殺 (kill/slaughter).
Which one should you use?
大虐殺 refers to a literal, large-scale massacre. 修羅 is used for a scene of violent conflict or a state of chaotic carnage. Additionally, the noun 修羅 is often used in the compound form 修羅場 (shuraba) to describe a battlefield, a scene of carnage or a chaotic, high-tension situation such as a heated argument.
How do you pronounce it?
daigyakusatsu
Did you know?
- While 修羅場 originally meant a battlefield of carnage, it is now commonly used to describe a 'scene of carnage' involving a romantic dispute or a messy breakup.
- The word 修羅 originates from the Buddhist concept of 'Ashura', a demigod characterized by an endless, violent struggle for supremacy.
- The term 修羅場, which means a scene of carnage or a chaotic battlefield, is frequently used in modern Japanese to describe a high-pressure workspace or a heated, stressful argument between people.
Examples in context
- その戦争は凄惨な大虐殺だった。Sono sensou wa seisan na dai gyakusatsu datta.That war was a gruesome carnage.
- 歴史書には大虐殺の記録がある。Rekishisho ni wa dai gyakusatsu no kiroku ga aru.There are records of carnage in history books.
- 彼は大虐殺の悲劇を語った。Kare wa dai gyakusatsu no higeki o katatta.He spoke of the tragedy of the carnage.
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are discussing a historical documentary.
- 陽太 Yotaこの映画のシーンは、本当の大虐殺を再現している。Kono eiga no shīn wa, hontō no daigyakusatsu o saigen shite iru.This movie scene recreates a real carnage.
- 結衣 Yui見ていて本当に胸が痛むね。Mite ite hontō ni mune ga itamu ne.It really hurts my heart to watch.
- 陽太 Yota大虐殺は二度と繰り返してはいけない。Daigyakusatsu wa nido to kurikaeshite wa ikenai.Carnage must never be repeated.
- 結衣 Yuiその通りだね、陽太さん。Sono tōri da ne, Yōta-san.You're absolutely right, Yota.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “carnage” translations and entries 大虐殺, 修羅, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
