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興亡 (こうぼう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun
rise and fall ; ups and downs
Refers to the cyclical flourishing and decline of nations, civilizations, organizations, or other large-scale entities. Often used in historical or analytical contexts.
Kanji 興 entertain, revive, retrieve 亡 deceased, the late, dying Similar words 盛せい 衰すい 盛衰 also means 'rise and fall' or 'prosperity and decline', but is more commonly used for personal fortunes, health, or smaller-scale cycles, while 興亡 tends to be used for nations, civilizations, or large organizations.
Etymology Compound of 興 (こう, 'to rise, flourish') and 亡 (ぼう, 'to perish, fall'). The reading こうぼう follows standard on'yomi. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used in classical Chinese and Japanese texts to describe the cyclical nature of states and institutions.
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This book describes the rise and fall of the Roman Empire in detail.
