seppuku

[se-poo-koo]

noun

1. hara-kiri.

seppuku

/ sɛˈpuːkuː /

noun

1. another word for hara-kiri

Word History and Origins

Origin of seppuku¹

First recorded in 1900–05; from Japanese, earlier s(y)et-puku, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese qiè “cut” + fù “belly”

Word History and Origins

Origin of seppuku¹

from Japanese, from Chinese ch`ieh to cut + fu bowels

Example Sentences

As a result, I was more familiar with Mishima’s life — the turn to ultraright nationalism, the attempted coup and his ensuing death by seppuku — than with his art.

From New York Times

So, I commit first-date seppuku and tell him about my lens and my vision loss.

From Los Angeles Times

The rogue warrior whose forces he defeats calls for the young Toranaga himself to serve as his second in the ritual of seppuku.

From New York Times

Mariko’s entire family was executed for it — by her father, who committed seppuku after being forced to carry out the act.

From New York Times

He said such shame could only be washed away by committing seppuku - a form of suicide by disembowelment, also known as hara-kiri - at a meeting of the Japanese cabinet after Kishida's return.

From Reuters