Korosu is the Japanese verb for ‘to kill’, explained

What does “korosu” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “korosu” to mean ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this verb together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “korosu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “korosu”
  • Example #1: how to say “kill” in Japanese
• Korosanai: the nai form of “korosu”
  • Example #2: how to say “don’t kill” in Japanese
• Korosou: the volitional form of “korosu”
  • Example #3: how to say “let’s kill” in Japanese
• Koroshimasu: the masu form of “korosu”
  • Example #4: how to say “kill” politely in Japanese
• Koroshita: the ta form of “korosu”
  • Example #5: how to say “killed” in Japanese
• Koroshite: the te form of “korosu”
  • Example #6: how to say “please kill me” in Japanese
• Koroseba: the ba form of “korosu”
  • Example #7: how to say “if kill” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “korosu”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “korosu”.

• korosu – 殺す (ころす) : a verb meaning ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “kill” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• akuma – 悪魔 (あくま) : a noun meaning ‘demon’ or ‘devil’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “akuma” to make the subject in the sentence.
• tenshi – 天使 (てんし) : a noun meaning ‘angel’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this works after “tenshi” to make the object in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “korosu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. Anyway, when we want to mean ‘to kill’ in Japanese, this verb is a very good option.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “korosu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “korosanai”.

Korosanai: the nai form of “korosu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “korosanai”.

• korosanai – 殺さない (ころさない) : the nai form of “korosu”, which means ‘not to kill’ or ‘not to murder’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “korosanai” consists of the following two parts:

• korosa – 殺さ (ころさ) : one conjugation of “korosu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “korosanai” is literally the nai form of “korosu” and means ‘not to kill’ or ‘not to murder’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “don’t kill” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
• mushi – 虫 (むし) : a noun meaning ‘insect’ or ‘bug’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “korosanai”. When we want to mean ‘not to kill’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Korosou: the volitional form of “korosu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “korosou”.

• korosou – 殺そう (ころそう) : the volitional form of “korosu”, which expresses volition to kill or murder.

Grammatically, “korosou” consists of the following two parts:

• koroso – 殺そ (ころそ) : one conjugation of “korosu”. This can have a smooth connection with “u”.
• u – う : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “korosou” is literally the volitional form of “korosu” and expresses volition to kill or murder. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “let’s kill” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• issho – 一緒 (いっしょ) : a noun meaning ‘same’, ‘being together’, or such in Japanese.
• ni – に : a case particle used to say how someone does something. In the example, this is used after “issho” to say “together” in Japanese.
• ningen – 人間 (にんげん) : a noun meaning ‘human’ or such in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “korosou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s kill” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.

Koroshimasu: the masu form of “korosu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “koroshimasu”.

• koroshimasu – 殺します (ころします) : the masu form of “korosu”, which means ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ politely in Japanese.

Grammatically, “koroshimasu” consists of the following two parts:

• koroshi – 殺し (ころし) : one conjugation of “korosu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
• masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “koroshimasu” is literally the masu form of “korosu” and means ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “kill” politely in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• to – と : a case particle used to join two words to make a parallel expression. In the example, this is used to join “tenshi” and “akuma”. The formed phrase literally means ‘angels and demons’ in Japanese.
• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “tenshi to akuma” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “koroshimasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “kill” or “murder” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.

Koroshita: the ta form of “korosu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “koroshita”.

• koroshita – 殺した (ころした) : the ta form of “korosu”, which means ‘killed’ or ‘murdered’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “koroshita” consists of the following two parts:

• koroshi – 殺し (ころし) : one conjugation of “korosu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “koroshita” is literally the ta form of “korosu” and means ‘killed’ or ‘murdered’ in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “killed” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• koukishin – 好奇心 (こうきしん) : a noun meaning ‘curiosity’ in Japanese.
• neko – 猫 (ねこ) : a noun meaning ‘cat’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is a typical usage of “koroshita”. When we want to use the past tense form of “korosu”, this ta form is the best option.

Koroshite: the te form of “korosu”

Below are the definition and meanings of “koroshite”.

• koroshite – 殺して (ころして) : the te form of “korosu”, which means ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “koroshite” consists of the following two parts:

• koroshi – 殺し (ころし) : one conjugation of “korosu”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “koroshite” is literally the te form of “korosu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “koroshite” is very useful when we want to use “korosu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #6: how to say “please kill me” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “koroshite” to add the meaning of ‘please’.

This is a typical usage of “koroshite”. In this example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “korosu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Koroseba: the ba form of “korosu”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “koroseba”.

• koroseba – 殺せば (ころせば) : the ba form of “korosu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “koroseba” consists of the following two parts:

• korose – 殺せ (ころせ) : one conjugation of “korosu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “koroseba” is literally the ba form of “korosu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “koroseba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #7: how to say “if kill” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ima – 今 (いま) : an adverb meaning ‘now’ in Japanese.
• koko – ここ : a demonstrative pronoun referring to a place close to the speaker. In the example, this works together with “de” to say “here” in Japanese.
• de – で : a case particle used to say where someone does something. In the example, this works together with “koko” to say “here” in Japanese.
• sekai – 世界 (せかい) : a noun meaning ‘world’ in Japanese.
• sukuwa – 救わ (すくわ) : one conjugation of the verb, “sukuu”, which means ‘to save’ in Japanese.
• reru – れる : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its passive form. In the example, this is used after “sukuwa” to make its passive form, “sukuwa reru”, which means ‘to be saved’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “koroseba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “ima koko de watashi wo koreseba”, which means ‘if you kill me here now’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to kill’, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “korosu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• korosu – 殺す (ころす) : a verb meaning ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese.
• korosanai – 殺さない (ころさない) : the nai form of “korosu”, which means ‘not to kill’ or ‘not to murder’ in Japanese.
• korosou – 殺そう (ころそう) : the volitional form of “korosu”, which expresses volition to kill or murder.
• koroshimasu – 殺します (ころします) : the masu form of “korosu”, which means ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ politely in Japanese.
• koroshita – 殺した (ころした) : the ta form of “korosu”, which means ‘killed’ or ‘murdered’ in Japanese.
• koroshite – 殺して (ころして) : the te form of “korosu”, which means ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese. When we want to use “korosu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• koroseba – 殺せば (ころせば) : the ba form of “korosu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with meaning ‘to kill’ or ‘to murder’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.