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.
地震で街は完全に破壊された。
The town was completely destroyed by the earthquake.
Collapse, crumbling, or falling apart. Often used for buildings, structures, or systems that collapse from within.
古い橋が崩壊した。
The old bridge collapsed.
Downfall, ruin, or extinction, often used for civilizations, nations, or species. Implies a final, complete end.
その帝国は滅亡した。
The empire fell into ruin.
Ruins, abandoned remains. Refers to the physical state of a place after ruination.
戦争の後、街は廃墟と化した。
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.
ギャンブルで身を破滅させた。
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.
敵を滅ぼす。
To destroy the enemy.
To cause (someone's) ruin. The causative form of 破滅.
彼の悪い習慣が彼を破滅させた。
His bad habits brought about his ruination.
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.
その地域は荒廃している。
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.
He ruined his business.
The old house was in ruins.