Translation guide
Expresses the idea of total ruin, annihilation, or wiping something out completely. Japanese offers several vivid terms, from physical obliteration to metaphorical collapse.
To describe something being completely destroyed, wiped out, or reduced to nothing, often in a violent or catastrophic way.
Literally 'complete destruction', often used for buildings or structures in disasters like earthquakes. Neutral, factual term.
地震で家が全壊した。
The house was completely destroyed by the earthquake.
Utter destruction, often used for cities, armies, or organizations. Implies being crushed or wiped out.
敵軍は壊滅した。
The enemy army was annihilated.
Total annihilation, often used for groups of people, animals, or things being wiped out completely.
その種は全滅の危機にある。
The species is in danger of complete extinction.
Pulverization, crushing into powder. Emphasizes physical smashing.
機械が岩を粉砕した。
The machine crushed the rocks into powder.
Extinction, disappearance, or being wiped out of existence. Can be used for abstract things like hopes or species.
恐竜は突然消滅した。
The dinosaurs suddenly became extinct.
To express that something like a plan, hope, or system has been utterly ruined or has collapsed completely.
Ruin, downfall, destruction. Often used for personal ruin, moral decay, or the collapse of a plan.
彼の計画は破滅した。
His plan was completely ruined.
Collapse, breakdown. Used for systems, governments, relationships, or mental states.
Literally 'roof tile breaking', meaning a complete collapse or disintegration of an organization or system. Somewhat literary.
To describe something being completely destroyed by fire.
Completely burned down. Standard term for buildings destroyed by fire.
火事で家が全焼した。
The house was completely destroyed by fire.
Destruction by fire, often used in news reports. Can refer to partial or complete loss.
To express the complete elimination of something, such as an enemy, a problem, or a species.
Eradication, rooting out completely. Used for diseases, pests, or social evils.
天然痘は根絶された。
Smallpox has been completely eradicated.
Annihilation, extermination. Often used in military contexts or for wiping out enemies.
全壊 (ぜんかい) is for structural destruction (earthquakes, etc.), 全焼 (ぜんしょう) is specifically for fire, and 全滅 (ぜんめつ) is for groups being wiped out (people, animals, etc.). Choose based on the cause and target.
English 'complete destruction' can often be expressed with a single Japanese word. Avoid clumsy phrases like 完全な破壊 (かんぜんなはかい) unless you specifically need to emphasize the process of destroying.
その国は経済崩壊に直面している。
The country is facing complete economic collapse.
The regime collapsed from within.
山火事で広大な森林が焼失した。
A vast forest was destroyed by wildfire.
敵を殲滅せよ。
Annihilate the enemy.