Japanese word

滅びる

Pronunciation

Romajihorobiru

Meaning

  • verbbe destroyed

Example

文明は戦争で滅びました。bun mei wa sen sō de horo bi ma shi ta

The civilization was destroyed in the war.

Illustration for 滅びる (be destroyed)

More examples

このままでは、地域の伝統が滅びてしまいます。ko no ma ma de wa chi iki no den tō ga horo bi te shi ma i ma su

If things continue this way, the region's traditions will perish.

Core concept

Describes an entity passing beyond recovery until it no longer continues to exist.

Common phrases

  • 戦争で滅びるsen sō de horo bi ru

    perish in war

  • 完全に滅びるkan zen ni horo bi ru

    be completely destroyed

Similar words

滅亡するmetsubōsuru: To cease to exist as a society, state, or organized group.
消滅するshōmetsusuru: To cease to exist completely, especially as an abstract thing or phenomenon.
絶えるtaeru: To stop continuing because its source, supply, or succession comes to an end.
潰えるtsuieru: To come to nothing after a plan, hope, or effort fails.

Definition in Japanese

生物や国などが、衰えたり滅ぼされたりして存在しなくなる。sei butsu ya kuni na do ga otoro e ta ri horo bo sa re ta ri shi te son zai shi na ku na ru

Word origin

滅びる (horobiru, "perish") is a native Japanese verb associated with the older form 滅ぶ (horobu, "perish"); the two forms share the meaning of ceasing to exist.

Usage tips

  • Because 滅びる (horobiru) is an intransitive verb, it presents the subject as disappearing or coming to an end rather than directly destroying something else.

Other meanings

  • perishverb
  • go extinctverb
  • go to ruinverb
  • fade awayverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 滅びhorobiruinnoun

Word lists with this word