Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
破滅 (はめつ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N1 Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
ruin ; destruction ; downfall
Refers to complete collapse or ruin, often of a person, plan, nation, or enterprise. Can be used as a noun or with する to mean 'to be ruined' or 'to go to ruin'.
国くに
は
破は
滅めつ
し
た
。
The country was ruined by the war.
Kanji 滅 destroy, ruin, overthrow Similar words 滅めつ 亡ぼう 滅亡 is more often used for the extinction or downfall of nations, civilizations, or species, while 破滅 can apply to personal ruin or the collapse of plans.
崩ほう 壊かい 崩壊 emphasizes physical or structural collapse, whereas 破滅 focuses on the state of being ruined or destroyed in a broader sense.
Etymology Compound of 破 (ha, 'break, destroy') and 滅 (metsu, 'destroy, perish'). The combination intensifies the sense of complete destruction or ruin.