Master confusing words with ease
Kamikaze vs. Hara-kiri
Kamikaze
/ˌkæmɪˈkɑːzi/Examples:
The project turned out to be a kamikaze mission, doomed from the start.His kamikaze dive into the icy waters showed real grit.She made a kamikaze career move, risking everything.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Hara-kiri
/ˈhɑːrəˌkɪri/Examples:
He studied the ritual of hara-kiri deeply in his research.The film portrays the tragic story of a samurai's hara-kiri.Hara-kiri was a matter of honor in the samurai code.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Remember, both words originate from Japanese culture but have different contexts.
- Kamikaze typically refers to WWII pilots on suicide missions, while hara-kiri is a traditional Japanese form of ritual suicide.
- Hara-kiri is performed with a short sword, while kamikaze relates to planes crashing into targets.
- Kamikaze is often used more metaphorically today, while hara-kiri maintains its historical context.
- Both involve sacrifice, but for kamikaze, its in warfare; for hara-kiri, its personal or cultural honor.
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