滅
滅·destroy, perish
- On-yomi
- メツ
- Kun-yomi
- ほろ(びる)ほろ(ぼす)
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 滅亡 | めつぼう | downfall, ruin |
| 消滅 | しょうめつ | extinction, disappearance |
| 滅びる | ほろびる | to perish, die out |
| 絶滅 | ぜつめつ | extinction |
Example sentences
その帝国は二百年後に滅びた。
そのていこくはにひゃくねんごにほろびた。
That empire perished two hundred years later.
多くの動物が絶滅の危機にある。
おおくのどうぶつがぜつめつのききにある。
Many animals are in danger of extinction.
契約は期限が来て消滅した。
けいやくはきげんがきてしょうめつした。
The contract lapsed when its term expired.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- Confusing 滅びる (perish) with 減る (へる, decrease) — the kanji differ by that inner 火
- Mixing up 滅びる (intransitive) and 滅ぼす (transitive)
Memory aid
Picture it
Water 氵 poured over a fire 火 hidden inside — dousing the flame until nothing is left.
Vocabulary using this kanji
- 滅びるほろびるto perish; to be ruined; to die out
- 滅ぼすほろぼすto destroy; to ruin; to overthrow
- 撲滅ぼくめつeradication
- 壊滅かいめつannihilation, devastation
- 全滅ぜんめつannihilation, total destruction
- 消滅しょうめつextinction, disappearance
- 幻滅げんめつdisillusionment
- 破滅はめつruin, destruction
- 滅亡めつぼうdownfall, ruin (of a nation)
- 支離滅裂しりめつれつincoherent, inconsistent
- 滅茶苦茶めちゃくちゃa mess; in ruins; absurd; unreasonable
- 絶滅ぜつめつextinction
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 4 of 5
What does the kanji 滅 mean?