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残骸 (ざんがい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
ruins ; wreckage ; debris ; remains
Refers to the broken or destroyed remains of something, such as a building, vehicle, or structure. Often used in contexts of accidents, disasters, or decay.
Kanji 残 remainder, leftover, balance Similar words 廃はい 墟きょ 廃墟 refers to abandoned, ruined structures or ghost towns, emphasizing emptiness and neglect, while 残骸 focuses on broken pieces and debris left after destruction.
がれき がれき is a more common, everyday word for rubble and debris, often used in disaster contexts. 残骸 can sound slightly more formal or literary.
Etymology Compound of 残 (ざん, 'remain') and 骸 (がい, 'corpse' or 'remains'). The kanji 骸 originally refers to bones or a dead body, giving the word a nuance of lifeless remains.
くるま
の
残ざん
骸がい
が
残のこ
っ
て
い
た
。
The wreckage of the car remained at the accident scene.