Translation guide
The English word 'perishing' can mean dying, being destroyed, or (in British informal use) feeling very cold. This guide covers how to express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
To express that someone or something is dying, being killed, or being completely destroyed.
The most common and general verb for 'to die'. Can be used for people, animals, and metaphorically for things like hopes or plans.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be ruined', 'to perish', often used for civilizations, species, or abstract things. More formal/literary than 死ぬ.
Transitive verb meaning 'to destroy', 'to annihilate'. Used when someone causes the perishing.
Suru-verb meaning 'to become extinct', 'to vanish'. Used for species, groups, or abstract concepts. Formal.
That species perished.
To complain that you are very cold, equivalent to 'freezing' or 'perishing' in British English.
Literally 'seems like I'll freeze', a common natural way to say you're perishing cold.
The Japanese word 死ぬ (to die) is not used alone to mean 'feeling cold'. Use phrases like 凍えそう or 死にそうに寒い to convey the idea naturally.
Many people perished in the war.
His dream perished there.
その文明は滅びた。
That civilization perished.
敵を滅ぼす。
To destroy the enemy.
It's perishing cold outside.
Literally 'so cold I could die', a hyperbolic expression matching the intensity of 'perishing'.
It's perishing cold today, isn't it?
Means 'unbearably cold', a strong but common complaint.
I'm perishing!