殺すぞ
korosu zo
The English phrase "I kill you" can be translated into Japanese as 殺すぞ (korosu zo).
殺すぞ is a violent threat used to intimidate someone or express extreme anger.
What does it mean word for word?
The core of the phrase is the verb 殺す, which means "to kill".
Which one should you use?
While 殺すぞ is a direct threat, 殺してやる expresses a more determined sense of "I will do the act of killing you" directed at the recipient.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
殺すぞ is highly aggressive and is used in extremely heated confrontations or in fictional media like anime and manga.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle ぞ is added to the end of the verb to add a strong, forceful and often masculine-sounding emphasis to the threat.
How do you pronounce it?
korosu zo
Did you know?
- In a real-life confrontation, using 殺すぞ can be used as legal evidence of 'intimidation' or 'threat of violence' under Japanese law, potentially leading to arrest.
- In Japanese anime and manga, 殺すぞ is often used as a comedic trope when a character is mildly annoyed, turning a literal death threat into a hyperbolic expression of frustration.
- Japanese has several ways to express 'killing' that are not used in 殺すぞ, such as 消す, which literally means 'to erase' but is used as slang for 'taking someone out'.
Examples in context
- てめえを殺す。I'll kill you.
- そんなことをしたら殺すぞ！sonna koto o shitara korosu zo!If you do that, I'll kill you!
- 調子に乗るな、殺すぞ。choushi ni noru na, korosu zo.Don't get cocky, or I'll kill you.
Example conversation
A heated argument between two acquaintances in a dark alley.
- 陽葵 Himariふざけるな、殺すぞ！fuzakeru na, korosu zo!Don't mess with me, I'll kill you!
- 健太 Kentaそんなに怒るなよ。sonna ni okoru na yo.Don't get so angry.
- 陽葵 Himari冗談じゃない、殺すぞ。joudan janai, korosu zo.I'm not joking, I'll kill you.
- 健太 Kenta分かった、悪かったよ。wakatta, warukatta yo.Fine, I was wrong.
