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What is the difference between 殺人 and 殺害? As I know, both of them mean
"killing". I found the words in these sentences:

> 秋田運転手刺殺事件、男を逮捕 強盗 **殺人** 容疑で。  
>  金品を奪い取る目的で **殺害** した疑い。
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2015-09-16T07:50:30.920
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2015-09-16T17:20:46.763
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question
word-choice usage
What is the difference between 殺{さつ}人{じん} and 殺{さつ}害{がい}?
Simply, 殺人 is a noun, "the act of killing another human: homicide", and 殺害 is
a verb, "to murder / to mortally wound".
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2015-09-16T12:13:16.883
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2015-09-16T12:13:16.883
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Note the kanji 「人」 in 殺人. This implies that this word is only used when
referring to the **act of killing a human**. 殺害 can include animals as well.
Also note that 殺人 is only a noun (or no-adjective). 殺害 is also a noun, but can
also be used as a -suru verb.
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2015-09-16T13:48:32.597
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2015-09-16T13:48:32.597
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Basic meanings are:

殺人: killing a human.

殺害: killing.

殺害する: kill.

So, 殺害 includes 殺人. But, you cannot change every 殺人 to 殺害.

Japanese criminal law defines a crime called 強盗殺人罪 (A robbery homicide). So,
if you refer to this crime, 殺人 is used. There are several similar crimes like
殺人罪 (A murder).
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2015-09-16T17:20:46.763
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2015-09-16T17:20:46.763
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answer