Japanese word

絶滅

Pronunciation

Romajizetsumetsu

Meaning

  • nounextinction

Example

この動物は絶滅の危機にあります。ko no dō butsu wa zetsu metsu no ki ki ni a ri ma su

This animal is in danger of extinction.

Illustration for 絶滅 (extinction)

More examples

野生動物の絶滅を防ぐために、生息地を守る必要があります。ya sei dō butsu no zetsu metsu o fuse gu ta me ni sei soku chi o mamo ru hitsu yō ga a ri ma su

We need to protect habitats to prevent the extinction of wild animals.

Core concept

Describes a living species disappearing completely, so that no members remain anywhere.

Common phrases

  • 絶滅の危機zetsu metsu no ki ki

    danger of extinction

  • 絶滅を防ぐzetsu metsu o fuse gu

    prevent extinction

Similar words

死滅shimetsu: The dying out of a species or population when all its members perish.

Definition in Japanese

生物の種が、地球上から一個体も残らず完全になくなること。sei butsu no shu ga chi kyū jō ka ra ichi ko tai mo noko ra zu kan zen ni na ku na ru ko to

Word origin

絶 (zetsu, "cut off") + 滅 (metsu, "perish or destroy") combines to express something being completely cut off and brought to an end.

Usage tips

  • In English, a species can go extinct, but an individual animal is usually described as dead rather than extinct.

Other meanings

  • exterminationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 絶滅するzetsumetsusurubecome extinctverb

Word lists with this word