Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 滅びる | horobiru | [ho̞ɾo̞bʲiɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 死ぬ | shinu | [ɕinɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 滅亡する | metsubō suru | |
| 斃死する | heishi suru |
The word 'perish' in English covers several different nuances in Japanese. It can refer to the biological act of dying, the dramatic destruction of a group or species, the formal downfall of a nation or a sudden death in a literary context.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on what is perishing. 死ぬ is the standard, neutral verb for the biological act of dying. 滅びる is more dramatic and is used when a civilization, a species or a lineage perishes or goes extinct. 滅亡する is a formal and heavy term specifically used for the downfall or ruin of a nation, empire or large organization. Finally, 斃死する is a highly specific, literary term used to describe dying suddenly or falling dead, often in the context of combat.
How do you pronounce it?
horobiru
Did you know?
- Because the suffix ぬ in 死ぬ originally indicated a spontaneous or non-intentional action, the verb carries a historical nuance that death is something that happens to a person, rather than an action they perform.
- Some linguists suggest that the word for 'to die', 死ぬ, might actually be a combination of 'death' and the verb 'to go away' or 'to disappear'.
Examples in context
- 私たちは兄弟として共に生きることを知らなければならない。さもなくば、愚か者として共に滅びるであろう。We must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools.This sentence demonstrates the use of 滅びる in a dramatic or poetic context regarding perishing together.Tatoeba #4920 by mookeee, translation #1509 by wuiwie
- 古い文明は、戦争によって滅びる。Furui bunmei wa, sensou ni yotte horobiru.Old civilizations perish due to war.
Example conversation
Two people are discussing the plot of a fantasy novel.
- 美咲 Misakiこの王国は、魔王の手によって滅びるの？Kono oukoku wa, maou no te ni yotte horobiru no?Will this kingdom perish by the hands of the demon king?
- 蓮 Renはい、最後にはすべてが滅びる運命です。Hai, saigo ni wa subete ga horobiru unmei desu.Yes, everything is destined to perish in the end.
- 美咲 Misakiとても悲しい物語ですね。Totemo kanashii monogatari desu ne.It is a very sad story, isn't it?
- 蓮 Renええ、美咲さんはどう思いますか？Ee, Misaki-san wa dou omoimasu ka?Yes, what do you think, Misaki?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “perish” translations and entries 滅びる, 死ぬ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 死ぬ, 滅びる, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
