hara-kiri

American  

[hahr-uh-keer-ee, har-uh-, har-ee-] / ˈhɑr əˈkɪər i, ˈhær ə-, ˈhær i- /

Also hari-kari

noun

1. Also called seppuku.  ceremonial suicide by ripping open the abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practiced in Japan by members of the warrior class when disgraced or sentenced to death.

2. suicide or any suicidal action; a self-destructive act.

   political hara-kiri.

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hara-kiri British  

/ ˌhærəˈkɪrɪ, ˌhærɪˈkɑːrɪ /

noun

1. Also called: seppuku.  (formerly, in Japan) ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword when disgraced or under sentence of death

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hara-kiri Cultural  

1. A ritual of suicide, associated with warriors in traditional Japanese society.

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Etymology

Origin of hara-kiri

First recorded in 1855–60; from Japanese, equivalent to hara “belly” (earlier fara, from unattested para ) + kiri “cut”

Example Sentences

"We cannot commit hara-kiri with the hope of hurting Russia"

From Reuters • Apr. 20, 2022

Campaign strategists largely regard unprompted confessionals as a pointless form of political hara-kiri.

From Washington Post • Oct. 19, 2018

Some said it could have been "a little bit of professional hara-kiri," he said.

From BBC • Oct. 21, 2013

But Mr. Granet insists that he is there ton prevent the kind of brand hara-kiri suffered by Rachel Ashwell, the creator of Shabby Chic, a popular line that includes overstuffed sofas.

From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2011

Undoubtedly, therefore, in the minds of most Japanese, there are many instances of hara-kiri which should not be classed as suicide, but technically as execution of judicial sentence.

From The Religions of Japan From the Dawn of History to the Era of Méiji by Griffis, William Elliot