Quotes
Japanese meaning of 生殺与奪の権を他人に握らせるな！！
— Giyu Tomioka ／ Demon Slayer
Voice sample:
せいさつよだつのけんをたにんににぎらせるな！！ (Seisatsu yodatsu no ken o tanin ni nigiraseru na!!)
English Translation:
Don't ever let others hold the power over your life or death!!
Original Scene & Cultural Context
Scene in the Original Work:
In episode 1, Tanjiro's sister Nezuko has been turned into a demon, and the demon slayer Giyu Tomioka is about to kill her. Tanjiro drops to his knees and begs Giyu to spare her. Giyu shouts this line at him, telling him that begging will not protect anyone.
日本語で読む
第1話、鬼になってしまった妹・禰豆子を斬ろうとする鬼殺隊の冨岡義勇に、炭治郎は土下座して命乞いをする。義勇はそんな炭治郎に向かって、頼むだけでは誰も守れないと、このセリフを叩きつける。
Cultural Context:
This is the line that made Giyu famous. It sounds harsh, but it is really a push for Tanjiro to stand up and fight, which is why fans love it. The heavy word 生殺与奪 (literally "giving life or taking it") became a meme, and people now use the line half-jokingly about anyone who controls their life: a boss, a parent who holds the Wi-Fi password, or the person who decides the dinner menu.
日本語で読む
冨岡義勇を代表するセリフ。厳しい言葉だが、実は炭治郎に「立ち上がって戦え」と促す言葉であることがファンに愛されている。「生殺与奪」という硬い四字熟語がネットで流行り、上司や、Wi-Fiのパスワードを握る親、夕飯の献立を決める人など、自分の命運を握る相手について冗談で使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
•「生殺与奪」= the power to let live or kill (a formal four-character compound). •「権」= right, power. •「握らせる」= causative of 握る (let someone grip). •「〜な」= blunt negative command ("don't").
日本語で読む
•「生殺与奪」は生かすも殺すも思いのままにすること（四字熟語）。•「権」は権利・権力。•「握らせる」は「握る」の使役形。•「〜な」は強い禁止の命令。
Trap for English Speakers
生殺与奪 is a very stiff word; normal speech would say 命を左右する. The 〜な command is extremely blunt and rude toward a real person, so use it only as an obvious quote.
日本語で読む
「生殺与奪」はかなり硬い言葉で、日常なら「命を左右する」が普通。「〜な」の禁止形はとても強いので、元ネタが伝わる場面で使う。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
給料日前の弟に「財布の生殺与奪の権を他人に握らせるな」と言ってやった。
I told my brother, broke before payday, "Don't let others hold the power of life or death over your wallet."
Example 2Applied Example
（Wi-Fiのパスワードを親に変えられて）生殺与奪の権を他人に握らせるな！！
(When your parents change the Wi-Fi password) "Don't ever let others hold the power over your life or death!!"
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「生殺与奪の権を他人に握らせるな！！」 mean?