suicide
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suicide
The act in which a person intentionally ends their own life. In modern language, the terms 'Suizid' (suicide) or 'Freitod' (voluntary death) are often used.
Nach dem Bankrott seiner Firma sah er keinen anderen Ausweg als den Selbstmord.
After his company went bankrupt, he saw no way out other than suicide.
The word 'Selbstmord' (suicide) is made up of 'selbst' (self) and 'Mord' (murder). So it literally describes a 'murder of oneself.'
Die Polizei schloss einen Selbstmord nicht aus.
The police did not rule out suicide.
The fixed collocation for this act is 'Selbstmord begehen' (to commit suicide). Other verbs like 'machen' (to make/do) or 'tun' (to do) are uncommon here and sound unnatural.
Die Figur im Roman versucht, Selbstmord zu begehen.
The character in the novel tries to commit suicide.
Because the word contains the element 'Mord' (murder), it can be perceived as judgmental in some situations. In medical or psychological specialist texts, it is therefore often avoided.
In der Berichterstattung über das Thema wird oft der neutralere Begriff „Suizid“ verwendet.
In reporting on the topic, the more neutral term 'Suizid' (suicide) is often used.
The figurative meaning can almost always be recognized by an additional adjective that names the area of failure. Typical examples are 'beruflicher Selbstmord' (professional suicide), 'politischer Selbstmord' (political suicide), or 'sozialer Selbstmord' (social suicide).
Den Chef öffentlich zu kritisieren, war für seine Karriere beruflicher Selbstmord.
Publicly criticizing the boss was professional suicide for his career.
murder
'der Mord' and 'der Selbstmord' both have to do with a person's death, but they do not mean the same thing. With 'Mord', one person intentionally and unlawfully kills another person. With 'Selbstmord', a person intentionally ends their own life; in modern language, you often also hear 'Suizid' for this. The words can be confused because both contain 'Mord'. The important difference is who is killed: in 'Mord', it is another person; in 'Selbstmord', it is the person themself. Both words can also be used figuratively, but even then the difference remains: 'ein Mord' is something extremely exhausting, while 'Selbstmord' is something that seriously harms oneself.
Nach dem Selbstmord des Patienten bietet die Klinik den Angehörigen Hilfe an.
After the patient's suicide, the clinic is offering support to the relatives.
Die Polizei untersucht einen Mord in der Nähe des Bahnhofs.
The police are investigating a murder near the train station.