What is the difference between 殺{さつ}人{じん} and 殺{さつ}害{がい}?


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。




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).




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.

