生殺し

Japanese

Kanji in this term
生	殺
なま Grade: 1	ころ > ごろ Grade: 5
kun'yomi

Alternative spelling
生殺し (kyūjitai)

Etymology

Compound of 生 +‎ 殺し. The koroshi changes to goroshi as an instance of rendaku (連濁).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) なまごろし [nàmágóróshí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [na̠ma̠ɡo̞ɾo̞ɕi]

Noun

生(なま)殺(ごろ)し • (namagoroshi) 

1. half dead

   Synonym: 半殺し (hangoroshi)

   蛇(へび)の生殺(なまごろ)し

   hebi no namagoroshi

   leaving unfinished with the intention of inflicting suffering. Literally "half-dead snake"

2. state of uncertainty, limbo, leaving unfinished with the intention of inflicting suffering

   まるで蛇(へび)の生殺(なまごろ)しのようなやり方(かた)だ

   marude hebi no namagoroshi no yō na yarikata da

   (please add an English translation of this example)