1. Kanji Breakdown: 殺
This kanji represents a strong and severe action with significant weight.
Meaning: To kill, to murder; to slaughter; to weaken; (in compound words) extremely, severely.
Reading:
Onyomi (Sino-Japanese reading): サツ (satsu), サイ (sai), セツ (setsu)
Kunyomi (Native Japanese reading): ころ（す） (koro(su))
The kanji is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). It consists of two parts:
Left (殺-殳): This is the "weapon" or "to strike" radical (るまた), which relates to violence or action with a tool.
Right (杀): This is a simplified form of an ancient character depicting a dying animal or a person being struck.
Thus, the character's core imagery is of "striking with a weapon to kill."
2. Stroke Order and Writing
Learning the correct stroke order is crucial for balanced and correct kanji. "殺" has 10 strokes.
Here is the stroke order diagram and explanation:
Total Strokes: 10
Start with the top-left horizontal stroke.
The dot on the left.
The horizontal stroke below.
The left-falling stroke.
The right-falling dot.
The small cross shape in the middle (horizontal then vertical).
The right-side "又" component (horizontal, then left-falling, then right-falling stroke).
The final "殳" radical part (horizontal, then vertical bend, then final right-falling stroke).
Key Writing Tips:
Write from top to bottom, left to right.
The character is complex. Break it down into the left part (朩) and the right part (殳).
Pay attention to the balance. The character should not be too wide.
The final stroke is the right-falling stroke of the "殳" radical.
3. Vocabulary and Example Sentences
Here are some common words using "殺" and how to use them in sentences.
Vocabulary
殺す (ころす, korosu)
Meaning: To kill, to murder.
Example: そのニュースは彼を殺した犯人が捕まったと報じた。
Romaji: Sono nyūsu wa kare o koroshita hannin ga tsukamatta to hōjita.
English: The news reported that the criminal who killed him has been caught.
殺人 (さつじん, satsujin)
Meaning: Murder, homicide.
Example: 殺人事件の調査が行われている。
Romaji: Satsujin jiken no chōsa ga okonawarete iru.
English: An investigation into the murder case is underway.
殺到 (さっとう, sattō)
Meaning: To rush in, to swarm, to be flooded (with requests, people, etc.).
Example: 新商品の発売にファンが殺到した。
Romaji: Shin shōhin no hatsubai ni fan ga sattō shita.
English: Fans swarmed to the release of the new product.
殺害 (さつがい, satsugai)
Meaning: Killing, murder, slaughter (often used in news reports).
Example: 被害者は何者かに殺害された。
Romaji: Higaisha wa nanimono ka ni satsugai sareta.
English: The victim was killed by someone.
殺風景 (さっぷうけい, sappūkei)
Meaning: Dreary, bleak, desolate; dull and lacking in taste or interest.
Example: この部屋は家具がなくて殺風景だ。
Romaji: Kono heya wa kagu ga nakute sappūkei da.
English: This room is dreary with no furniture.
抹殺 (まっさつ, massatsu)
Meaning: Erasure, obliteration; to wipe out completely (physically or from records/memory).
Example: 歴史からその事件が抹殺された。
Romaji: Rekishi kara sono jiken ga massatsu sareta.
English: That incident was erased from history.
Summary
Kanji: 殺
Core Meaning: To kill, to murder; to weaken; extremely.
Readings: On'yomi サツ (satsu), Kun'yomi ころす (korosu)
Stroke Order: 10 strokes. Due to its complexity, practice breaking it down into its components.
This kanji carries a very strong meaning and is used in many serious contexts. Mastering its stroke order and vocabulary is important for accurate reading and writing, but please be mindful of its severe connotations when using it.