noun

seppuku

seh-POO-koo

noun

A ritual form of suicide by disembowelment historically practiced by Japanese samurai, often to preserve honor or avoid disgrace.

"The defeated general chose seppuku rather than surrender."

How to Use Seppuku

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA ritual suicide by self-disembowelment, historically tied to samurai honor codes.

Common mistake

Hara-kiri is a more colloquial word for the same act; seppuku is the more formal, historically precise term.

Easily confused with

hara-kiri

seppukus plural, seppuku plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The defeated general chose _____ rather than surrender.

Borrowed from Japanese seppuku, from characters meaning "to cut" and "belly."

kuku Shinjuku