Translation guide
The state or process of being completely destroyed, ruined, or brought to collapse. This guide covers how to express ruination in Japanese, from physical destruction to personal, financial, or social downfall.
To describe the total destruction of a building, city, or physical structure, often implying it is reduced to ruins or rubble.
General term for destruction, breaking, or demolishing. Can be used for both physical and abstract ruination.
The town was completely destroyed by the earthquake.
Collapse, crumbling, or falling apart. Often used for buildings, structures, or systems that collapse from within.
The old bridge collapsed.
Downfall, ruin, or extinction, often used for civilizations, nations, or species. Implies a final, complete end.
The empire fell into ruin.
Ruins, abandoned remains. Refers to the physical state of a place after ruination.
After the war, the city was reduced to ruins.
To describe a person's life, finances, reputation, or social standing being destroyed or brought to a state of collapse.
Ruin, destruction, downfall. Commonly used for personal ruin, such as financial or moral collapse.
He ruined himself through gambling.
Fall, decline, ruin (especially of a family, social status, or fortune). Often implies a gradual downfall.
Bankruptcy. Specifically financial ruination.
Decline, fall into poverty or obscurity. A more literary term for social or financial ruin.
To express the act of bringing about ruination, destroying someone or something.
To destroy, ruin, overthrow. Often used for nations, organizations, or people.
To destroy the enemy.
To cause (someone's) ruin. The causative form of 破滅.
To crush, smash, ruin. Can be used for ruining a business, plan, or person's prospects.
To describe something that is in a state of ruin, decay, or disrepair.
Desolation, ruin, dilapidation. Often used for land, buildings, or environments that have fallen into neglect.
The area is in a state of ruination.
To decay, rot, fall into ruin. Often used for wood, buildings, or things that deteriorate over time.
破滅 (はめつ) is a broad term for personal ruin, often implying moral or complete destruction. 没落 (ぼつらく) specifically refers to a fall in social status or fortune, often gradual. 破産 (はさん) is strictly financial bankruptcy.
There is no single Japanese word that perfectly matches 'ruination' in all contexts. Choose the term based on whether you mean physical destruction, personal downfall, or financial collapse.
彼の家は没落した。
His family fell into ruin.
The company went bankrupt.
He fell into ruin and became homeless.
His bad habits brought about his ruination.
He ruined his business.
The old house was in ruins.