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.
The house was completely destroyed by the earthquake.
Utter destruction, often used for cities, armies, or organizations. Implies being crushed or wiped out.
The enemy army was annihilated.
Total annihilation, often used for groups of people, animals, or things being wiped out completely.
The species is in danger of complete extinction.
Pulverization, crushing into powder. Emphasizes physical smashing.
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.
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.
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.
To express the complete elimination of something, such as an enemy, a problem, or a species.
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.