Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
存亡 (そんぼう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word Freq. Frequency Top 50,000 Meanings 1
noun
life or death ; survival or extinction ; fate
Refers to the continued existence or demise of an organization, nation, or entity, often in serious or formal contexts. Not used for individual biological life/death.
は
国こっ
家か
の
存そん
亡ぼう
に
関かか
わる
。
That policy concerns the very existence of the nation.
Kanji 存 exist, suppose, be aware of 亡 deceased, the late, dying Similar words 死し 活かつ 死活 also means life or death, but is more often used for individual or immediate survival situations (e.g., 死活問題), while 存亡 emphasizes the continued existence or extinction of a larger entity.
生せい 死し 生死 refers to biological life and death of living beings; 存亡 is used for the survival or demise of organizations, nations, etc.
Etymology Compound of 存 (exist, survive) and 亡 (perish, die). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination naturally yields the meaning 'existence or extinction'.
