What is the difference between 殺人 and 殺害? As I know, both of them mean "killing". I found the words in these sentences:
秋田運転手刺殺事件、男を逮捕 強盗殺人容疑で。
金品を奪い取る目的で殺害した疑い。
asked Sep 16, 2015 at 7:50
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1Off the top of my head... You'd say (~~を)殺害する but not (~~を)殺人する.– chocolate ♦Sep 16, 2015 at 9:53
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3 Answers
Basic meanings are:
殺人: killing a human.
殺害: killing.
殺害する: kill.
So, 殺害 includes 殺人. But, you cannot change every 殺人 to 殺害.
Japanese criminal law defines a crime called 強盗殺人罪 (A robbery homicide). So, if you refer to this crime, 殺人 is used. There are several similar crimes like 殺人罪 (A murder).
Note the kanji 「人」 in 殺人. This implies that this word is only used when referring to the act of killing a human. 殺害 can include animals as well. Also note that 殺人 is only a noun (or no-adjective). 殺害 is also a noun, but can also be used as a -suru verb.
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Simply, 殺人 is a noun, "the act of killing another human: homicide", and 殺害 is a verb, "to murder / to mortally wound".
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1But 殺害 can be used as a noun, too, no? eg: 「ウサーマ・ビン・ラーディンの殺害が確認され・・・」– chocolate ♦Sep 16, 2015 at 12:28