烈れっ震しん

れ

っ

し

ん

Meanings

disastrous earthquake; severe earthquake; violent earthquake

A formal or disaster-reporting term for a very strong, destructive earthquake; more specific and heavier in tone than the general word 地震.

その地ち域いきは烈れっ震しんに見み舞まわれた。
The region was struck by a disastrous earthquake.
烈れっ震しんで多おおくの建たて物ものが倒とう壊かいした。
Many buildings collapsed in the violent earthquake.

See all 5 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉で烈れっ震しんが発はっ生せいするfor a severe/disastrous earthquake to occur in a place
その地ち方ほうで烈れっ震しんが発はっ生せいし、多おおくの建たて物ものが倒とう壊かいした。
A disastrous earthquake occurred in that region, and many buildings collapsed.
烈れっ震しんに見み舞まわれるto be struck by a severe/disastrous earthquake
その町まちは昨さく夜や、烈れっ震しんに見み舞まわれた。
The town was struck by a disastrous earthquake last night.

Kanji

烈ardent, violent, vehement
震quake, shake, tremble

Related words

大おお地じ震しん
大地震 is the common everyday/news word for a major earthquake, while 烈震 is a formal, technical term used in disaster reports.
激げき震しん
激震 denotes the very highest level of shaking on the old intensity scale (and is often used figuratively for shocks), whereas 烈震 is the level just below it and stays literal.
地じ震しんN4
地震 is the neutral, general word for any earthquake, while 烈震 specifically singles out a violently destructive one.

Opposites

微び震しん
微震 refers to a barely perceptible tremor, the opposite end of the intensity scale from the violently destructive 烈震.

Don't confuse with

強きょう震しん
強震 is the intensity level just below 烈震 on the old JMA scale, so learners easily mix up which term denotes the stronger quake.

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound: 烈 conveys violent or intense force, and 震 means shaking or earthquake. This is a transparent meaning-based spelling rather than evidence of a specific historical origin.