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栄枯 (えいこ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

栄えい枯こ

え

い

こ

Common word

Meanings

1

noun

vicissitudes; ups and downs

Refers to the alternating rise and fall of fortunes, especially in life, career, or nature. Often used in the set phrase 栄枯盛衰.

人じん生せいには栄えい枯こ盛せい衰すいがつきものだ。
Life is full of ups and downs.
彼かれは会かい社しゃの栄えい枯こを身みをもって経けい験けんした。
He experienced the vicissitudes of the company firsthand.

Kanji

栄flourish, prosperity, honor
枯wither, die, dry up

Similar words

盛せい衰すい
盛衰 also means rise and fall, but 栄枯 specifically contrasts glory (栄) with withering (枯), often used together as 栄枯盛衰.
浮うき沈しずみ
浮き沈み is a more colloquial term for ups and downs, while 栄枯 is more literary and often used in formal or written contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 栄 (ei, 'glory, prosperity') and 枯 (ko, 'wither, decline'). The pairing of opposites is a common pattern in classical Chinese-derived compounds.