興 亡(こうぼう)

こうぼう

noun

rise and fall; prosperity and decline

literary

1. rise and fall; prosperity and decline

The cycle of flourishing and declining, especially of nations, dynasties, or civilizations.

帝国(ていこく)の興亡(こうぼう)を学(まな)ぶ。

To study the rise and fall of empires.

歴史(れきし)は国(くに)の興亡(こうぼう)の繰(く)り返(かえ)しだ。

History is a repetition of the rise and fall of nations.

興亡(こうぼう)の歴史(れきし)を振(ふ)り返(かえ)る。

To look back on the history of rise and fall.

興亡(こうぼう) describes the cycle of rising to power and falling into decline, typically used for nations, empires, or civilizations.

Forms

興(こう) (rise/prosper) + 亡(ぼう) (perish/decline) = rise and fall

Common expressions

国(くに)の興亡(こうぼう): the rise and fall of a nation
帝国(ていこく)の興亡(こうぼう): the rise and fall of an empire
興亡(こうぼう)の歴史(れきし): history of rise and decline
興亡(こうぼう)を繰(く)り返(かえ)す: to repeat cycles of rise and fall

Register

Literary/formal. Common in historical writing and academic texts.

Similar words

盛衰(せいすい): rise and decline (prosperity and decay)
栄枯(えいこ): prosperity and decline

Related Words

Synonym: 盛衰(せいすい) (similar)

Synonym: 栄枯(えいこ) (prosperity and decline)

Related: 存亡(そんぼう) (existence or ruin)

Compare: 栄枯盛衰(えいこせいすい) (ups and downs of life)

Related: 浮沈(ふちん) (rise and fall)

general

Added 2026.1.16 17:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

05500/05568_koubou