犠牲
gisei[ɡʲise̞ː]
In Japanese, the word for sacrifice is 犠牲 (gisei).
犠牲 (gisei) is used to describe the act of destroying or surrendering something for the sake of something else that is regarded as more urgent or valuable. It can also refer to a human being, an animal or a physical or immaterial object that is offered to a deity. For a more formal or respectful connotation when offering something, you might use the verb 捧げる (sasageru). If you are discussing devotion or dedication toward a goal that involves personal sacrifice, the noun 献身 (kenshin) is used.
Meaning: to destroy or surrender (something) for the sake of something else regarded as more urgent or valuable (verb)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
gisei
Did you know?
- The word 犠牲 (gisei) is often used in news reports to describe victims of natural disasters, such as 'earthquake victims'. In English, we often use 'sacrifice' for intentional acts, but in Japanese, it can describe the unintended loss of life in a catastrophe.
- In a business context, if you want to say you are 'sacrificing' your personal time for a project, using 犠牲 might sound overly dramatic or even tragic. It is more natural to use the phrase 無理をする (muri o suru), which literally means 'to do the impossible'.
- The verb 捧げる is used when offering a sacrifice to a deity, but it is also the standard word for 'dedicating' a book or a piece of music to someone.
Examples in context
- 犠牲はつきものさ。A sacrifice is unavoidable.Tatoeba #10987667 by small_snow, translation #12631895 by urro
- あなた方の助け、新しい奉仕や犠牲なしにはそれは起こることができない。It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.Tatoeba #330778 by sugisaki, translation #330412 by sugisaki
- 彼は夢のために多くの犠牲を払った。Kare wa yume no tame ni ooku no gisei o haratta.He made many sacrifices for his dream.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their career choices at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yui夢を追うには、何か犠牲が必要かな？Yume o ou ni wa, nanika gisei ga hitsuyou kana?Do I need to make some sacrifices to pursue my dream?
- 陽太 Yota自由を犠牲にすることは、簡単じゃないよ。Jiyuu o gisei ni suru koto wa, kantan janai yo.Sacrificing your freedom is not easy, Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiそれでも、挑戦してみたいの。Soredemo, chousen shite mitai no.Even so, I want to give it a try.
- 陽太 Yota君の決意を応援しているよ。Kimi no ketsui o ouen shite iru yo.I am rooting for your determination.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 犠牲, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
