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.
多くの人が戦争で死んだ。
Many people perished in the war.
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.
外は凍えそうに寒い。
It's perishing cold outside.
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.
彼の夢はそこで死んだ。
His dream perished there.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be ruined', 'to perish', often used for civilizations, species, or abstract things. More formal/literary than 死ぬ.
その文明は滅びた。
That civilization perished.
Transitive verb meaning 'to destroy', 'to annihilate'. Used when someone causes the perishing.
敵を滅ぼす。
To destroy the enemy.
Suru-verb meaning 'to become extinct', 'to vanish'. Used for species, groups, or abstract concepts. Formal.
その種は消滅した。
That species perished.
Literally 'so cold I could die', a hyperbolic expression matching the intensity of 'perishing'.
今日は死にそうに寒いね。
It's perishing cold today, isn't it?
Means 'unbearably cold', a strong but common complaint.
寒くてたまらないよ。
I'm perishing!