0%

hara-kiri

ha·ra-ki·ri
H h

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [hahr-uh-keer-ee, har-uh-, har-ee-]
    • /ˈhɑr əˈkɪər i, ˈhær ə-, ˈhær i-/
    • /ˌhær.əˈkiː.ri/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hahr-uh-keer-ee, har-uh-, har-ee-]
    • /ˈhɑr əˈkɪər i, ˈhær ə-, ˈhær i-/

Definitions of hara-kiri word

  • noun hara-kiri Also called seppuku. ceremonial suicide by ripping open the abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practiced in Japan by members of the warrior class when disgraced or sentenced to death. 1
  • noun hara-kiri suicide or any suicidal action; a self-destructive act: political hara-kiri. 1
  • uncountable noun hara-kiri In former times, if a Japanese man committed hara-kiri, he killed himself by cutting his own stomach open, in order to avoid dishonour. 0
  • noun hara-kiri (formerly, in Japan) ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword when disgraced or under sentence of death 0
  • noun hara-kiri ritual suicide by cutting the abdomen: it is called seppuku by the Japanese, and was practiced by high-ranking Japanese of the military class in lieu of execution or to avoid disgrace 0

Information block about the term

Origin of hara-kiri

First appearance:

before 1855
One of the 30% newest English words
1855-60; < Japanese, equivalent to hara belly (earlier fara < *para) + kiri cut

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Hara-kiri

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

hara-kiri popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 43% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
According to our data about 51% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

Synonyms for hara-kiri

noun hara-kiri

  • seppuku — hara-kiri (def 1).
  • disembowelment — to remove the bowels or entrails from; eviscerate.
  • self-immolation — voluntary sacrifice or denial of oneself, as for an ideal or another person.

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?