猛毒
mōdoku
The English phrase "deadly poison" is translated into Japanese as 猛毒 (mōdoku).
猛毒 is used to describe a substance that is extremely toxic and likely to cause death if ingested or absorbed.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 猛 (mō), meaning fierce or violent and 毒 (doku), meaning poison.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 猛毒 as an adjective to modify a noun, such as "deadly poison snake," you must add the particle の (no) after it, resulting in 猛毒の.
How do you pronounce it?
mōdoku
Did you know?
- The character 毒 appears in the word 毒を食らわば皿まで, a proverb meaning 'to eat poison, one must eat even the plate'. It is used to describe someone who, once committed to a path of revenge or a bad situation, will go to any extreme to finish it.
- While 猛毒 means 'deadly poison', the word 毒 can also be used to describe the 'sting' or 'kick' of an alcoholic drink or a pungent spice.
- The character 毒 is used in the term 毒を吐く, which literally means 'to vomit poison', but it is the standard way to describe someone who is complaining or venting bitter, unpleasant feelings.
Examples in context
- この毒物は、致死性毒物として知られています。This substance is known as a deadly poison.
- あの毒、死ぬほどの毒だって。
マジ？どんな毒なの？Friend 1: That poison is so deadly. Friend 2: Seriously? What kind of poison is it? - そのキノコには猛毒が含まれています。Sono kinoko ni wa moudoku ga fukumarete imasu.That mushroom contains a deadly poison.
- このヘビの毒は猛毒だ。Kono hebi no doku wa moudoku da.This snake's venom is a deadly poison.
- 猛毒を扱うときは注意してください。Moudoku o atsukau toki wa chuui shite kudasai.Please be careful when handling deadly poisons.
Example conversation
Two students are discussing a mystery novel in a library.
- 大翔 Hirotoこの小説の犯人は、猛毒を使って人を殺したんだ。Kono shousetsu no hannin wa, moudoku o tsukatte hito o koroshita nda.The culprit in this novel killed someone using a deadly poison.
- 美咲 Misakiえっ、そんなに恐ろしいものを使ったの？E', sonna ni osoroshii mono o tsukatta no?What, they used something that terrifying?
- 大翔 Hirotoそうだよ、美咲。とても巧妙なトリックだよ。Sou da yo, Misaki. Totemo koumyou na torikku da yo.Yes, Misaki. It's a very clever trick.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、続きがすごく気になる！Hiroto-kun, tsuduki ga sugoku ki ni naru!Hiroto, I'm really curious about what happens next!
