滅亡|めつぼうmetsubou[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbdownfall; ruin; collapse; destruction
    仮かりに核戦争かくせんそうが起おこったとすれば、人類じんるいは滅亡めつぼうするだろう。↗
    If a nuclear war were to break out, mankind would perish.
Conjugation
Dictionary form滅亡する(めつぼうする)
Polite (masu)滅亡します(めつぼうします)
Negative (nai)滅亡しない(めつぼうしない)
polite (masen)滅亡しません(めつぼうしません)
classical zu / nu滅亡せず・滅亡せぬ(めつぼうせず・めつぼうせぬ)
Past (ta)滅亡した(めつぼうした)
polite (mashita)滅亡しました(めつぼうしました)
Past negative (nakatta)滅亡しなかった(めつぼうしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)滅亡しませんでした(めつぼうしませんでした)
Te form滅亡して(めつぼうして)
Potential滅亡できる(めつぼうできる)
Passive滅亡される(めつぼうされる)
Causative滅亡させる(めつぼうさせる)
Causative passive滅亡させられる(めつぼうさせられる)
Conditional (ba)滅亡すれば(めつぼうすれば)
tara滅亡したら(めつぼうしたら)
Volitional滅亡しよう(めつぼうしよう)
polite (mashou)滅亡しましょう(めつぼうしましょう)
Imperative滅亡しろ(めつぼうしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym壊滅かいめつNeutralBeing wiped out or completely destroyed, as in 「壊滅的打撃」; 「滅亡」 centers on the fall of a nation or people.
  • Synonym破滅はめつNeutralIrreversible ruin that can befall individuals, families, or states; 「滅亡」 centers on the fall of a nation or people.
  • Synonym絶滅ぜつめつNeutralThe extinction of species, as in 「絶滅危惧種」; 「滅亡」 centers on the fall of nations and dynasties.
  • Synonym消滅しょうめつNeutralVanishing or ceasing to be valid, as in 「権利の消滅」; 「滅亡」 centers on the fall of a nation.
  • Synonym死滅しめつWrittenA written word for organisms or cells dying out entirely; 「滅亡」 centers on the fall of nations and peoples.
  • Synonym滅びるほろびるNeutralThe native verb for a nation perishing or declining, as in 「国が滅びる」; 「滅亡(する)」 leans written/formal.
  • Synonym衰亡すいぼうWrittenA formal word for gradual decline that ends in fall; 「滅亡」 stresses the final downfall itself.
  • Related絶えるたえるNeutralDying out or being cut off, as in 「血筋が絶える」; 「滅亡」 centers on the fall of a nation.
  • Related廃絶はいぜつWrittenA written word for abolishing or doing away with something, as in 「核廃絶」; 「滅亡」 centers on the fall of a nation.
  • Related荒廃こうはいNeutralLand or buildings falling into ruin, or hearts and minds turning barren; 「滅亡」 means perishing outright.
  • Related滅ぶほろぶNeutralThe native verb for perishing or ceasing to exist; 「滅亡(する)」 is a Sino-Japanese word that leans written/formal.
  • Related滅するめっするWrittenA written word for perishing or going out; everyday speech uses 「滅びる」.
  • Antonym繁栄はんえいNeutralThe antonym on the rise-and-fall axis: a nation thriving and prospering.

Use 「滅亡」 for the fall of a nation, dynasty, or people, as in 「ローマ帝国の滅亡」. For species extinction say 「絶滅」, for irreversible ruin 「破滅」, and for complete destruction 「壊滅」. As a verb, the native 「滅びる」 is the everyday choice; the antonym is 「繁栄」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 滅ほろんで無なくなること。
  2. 滅ほろんで無なくなる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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