Suicide in Korean 🇰🇷

자살 info.

Tips to Remember the Word:
• Think of 자살 (ja-sal) as a compound of 자 (self) and 살 (kill) – similar to the Chinese 自殺, which literally means “self-killing.”
• Remembering that the syllable 자 sounds like “self” and 살 sounds like “slam” (as in to slam something down) can help you recall the idea of self-inflicted harm.

Explanation:
• 자살 means “suicide” in Korean. It specifically refers to the act of intentionally ending one’s own life.
• The word is derived directly from Chinese characters (自殺), making it a cognate for speakers familiar with these characters.

Other Words with the Same Meaning:
• 자살행위 (ja-sal-haeng-wi) – literally “suicidal act,” though it is a more descriptive phrase.
• It is common to simply use 자살 for “suicide” in most contexts.

Alternate Meanings / Slang:
• In some online gaming communities, 자살 may be used informally to describe a situation where a player intentionally “kills” their own character (self-kill) to avoid a worse outcome.
• However, outside such niche contexts, 자살 is primarily understood in its literal, serious sense.

Example Sentences:
1. 자살은 심각한 사회 문제이다.
(Jasal-eun simgaghan sahoe munje-ida.)
Translation: Suicide is a serious social problem.

2. 그는 깊은 슬픔에 빠져 자살을 시도했다.
(Geuneun gip-eun seulpeum-e ppajyeo jasal-eul sidohaetta.)
Translation: He, overwhelmed by deep sorrow, attempted suicide.

3. 어떤 사람들은 고통 속에서 벗어나기 위해 자살이라는 선택을 하기도 한다.
(Eotteon saramdeureun gotong sogeseo beoseonagi wihae jasaliraneun seontaeg-eul hagido handa.)
Translation: Some people choose suicide as a way to escape their suffering.

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