殺意

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 殺意(さつい) means murderous intent, or an intention to kill another person.
• Basic usage: It is used when a culprit in a mystery harbors murderous intent or when an investigator asks who had such intent. Typical patterns are 殺意を抱く and 殺意がある.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Recognize the strength of the intent
  • It means a concrete and extreme intention to kill, not merely anger or dislike.
• Difference from 敵意
  • 敵意(てきい) is hostility toward someone, while 殺意 is a much stronger term involving intent to kill.