Japanese word

滅亡

Pronunciation

Romajimetsubō

Meaning

  • noundestruction

Example

帝国の滅亡を防ぎます。tei koku no metsu bō o fuse gi ma su

We prevent the empire's destruction.

Illustration for 滅亡 (destruction)

More examples

歴史家は文明の滅亡を記録しました。reki shi ka wa bun mei no metsu bō o ki roku shi ma shi ta

Historians recorded the destruction of a civilization.

Core concept

Refers to an established power being brought to a final end rather than merely weakened or changed.

Common phrases

  • 帝国の滅亡tei koku no metsu bō

    the fall of an empire

  • 滅亡に至るmetsu bō ni ita ru

    end in destruction

  • 滅亡の危機metsu bō no ki ki

    a threat of destruction

Similar words

滅びhorobi: The complete destruction or end of a state, society, or civilization.
破滅hametsu: The ruin or destruction of a person, group, state, or society.
崩壊hōkai: The collapse of a state, society, or system, which may leave it weakened rather than ended.

Definition in Japanese

国や王朝などが勢力を失い、最後には跡形もなく消えること。kuni ya ō chō na do ga sei ryoku o ushina i sai go ni wa ato kata mo na ku ki e ru ko to

Word origin

The compound 滅亡 (metsubō) is made from 滅 (metsu, "extinguish") and 亡 (bō, "perish"), linking the ideas of being extinguished and ceasing to exist.

Usage tips

  • In historical writing, 滅亡 (metsubō) often marks the complete fall of a state or civilization, while English destruction can also describe severe damage that does not bring something to an end.

Other meanings

  • collapsenoun
  • downfallnoun
  • extinctionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 滅亡するmetsubōsuruperishverb

Word lists with this word