沈没
chinbotsu[t͡ɕĩmbo̞t͡sɨ]
The English word "sinking" is translated into Japanese as 沈没 (chinbotsu).
沈没 is a noun that specifically refers to the sinking of ships. If you want to express the general action of something sinking, the verb 沈む is the most common and general term used in Japanese.
Meaning: process by which something sinks, or is sunk (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 沈没 is composed of two kanji: 沈, which means to sink or subside and 没, which means to sink, submerge or disappear.
Which one should you use?
While 沈没 is used for a vessel sinking, other terms are used for different types of sinking. 沈下 is used for the sinking or subsidence of the ground or a structure, and 沈殿 is used for particles or substances sinking to the bottom of a liquid.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the noun 沈没 into a verb meaning "to sink (a ship)", you can add the verb する to form 沈没する.
How do you pronounce it?
chinbotsu
Did you know?
- The word 沈没 is frequently used metaphorically in Japanese to describe the complete failure or bankruptcy of a business or project, as if the entire venture had sunk like a ship.
- The kanji 沈 in 沈没 is also used in the word 沈黙, meaning 'silence', linking the physical act of sinking to the idea of descending into a quiet, heavy stillness.
- The kanji 沈 itself is composed of the radical for 'water' on the left side. This provides a visual clue that the word's core meaning is inextricably linked to liquid.
Examples in context
- 彼の船は深海に沈みました。His ship sank in the deep sea.
- その船はトロイの戦いで沈没しました。The ship sank during the Battle of Troy.
- 昨日、友達のボートが川で沈んだんだ。Yesterday, my friend's boat sank in the river.
- あの船、なんと、びっくりするほど速攻で沈没したんだよ！You won't believe it, but that ship sank incredibly fast!
- 巨大な橋が海底に沈下した。The enormous bridge sank to the seafloor.
- 沈没のニュースを見ました。chinbotsu no nyuusu o mimashita.I saw the news about the sinking.
- 巨大な船の沈没が確認された。kyodai na fune no chinbotsu ga kakunin sareta.The sinking of the huge ship was confirmed.
- 沈没の速度は非常に速かった。chinbotsu no sokudo wa hijou ni hayakatta.The speed of the sinking was very fast.
Example conversation
Youta and Yui are watching a documentary about a shipwreck.
- 陽太 Yotaこの船の沈没は突然でしたか？kono fune no chinbotsu wa totsuzen deshita ka?Was the sinking of this ship sudden?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、嵐で急に沈んだそうです。hai, arashi de kyuu ni shizunda sou desu.Yes, I heard it sank suddenly in a storm.
- 陽太 Yota恐ろしい出来事ですね。osoroshii dekigoto desu ne.That is a terrifying event.
- 結衣 Yui本当にそう思います。hontou ni sou omoimasu.I really think so too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sinking” translations and entries 沈没, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
