How to say "self-destruction" in Japanese

• 自滅じめつCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers the figurative sense of self-destruction: ruining or destroying oneself through one's own behavior or choices. Typical contexts include a person, organization, or team whose own actions bring about their downfall.
  今いまの日本にっぽんは自滅じめつへのみちを突き進つきすすんでいますよね。↗

  Present-day Japan is going down the route to self destruction, isn't it?
• 自爆じばくCommon
  suru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveRefers to literally blowing oneself up, including suicide attacks such as crashing one's plane into a target. It is also used figuratively, but for the general sense of self-destruction 自滅 is usually the word you want.
• 自壊じかいCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbDescribes something physically or structurally destroying or collapsing on its own, such as a machine, system, or structure. It generally refers to the object itself breaking down rather than a person ruining himself.

Use 自滅 for ruining oneself through one's own actions, 自爆 for literally blowing oneself up (including suicide attacks), and 自壊 for something breaking down or collapsing on its own.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 自滅じめつself-destruction
• 自爆じばくsuicide bombing (e.g. crashing one's plane into a target)
• 自己破壊じこはかいself-destruction
• 自壊じかいself-destruction