1.
becoming nominal; losing substance; becoming an empty shell
The process by which something loses its original meaning, function, or vitality while retaining only its outward form; becoming a mere formality.
規則が形骸化している。
The rules have become nominal.
会議が形骸化して意味がなくなった。
The meetings have become empty formalities and lost their meaning.
伝統行事の形骸化を防ぐ。
To prevent traditional events from becoming mere formalities.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 規則の形骸化 - rules becoming nominal
- 制度の形骸化 - system becoming an empty shell
- 形骸化を防ぐ - to prevent from becoming hollow
- 形骸化した組織 - an organization that has lost its substance
ETYMOLOGY:
形骸 means "skeleton" or "mere shell," so 形骸化 literally means "to become a skeleton/shell."
NUANCE:
Always negative - implies something has degenerated from meaningful to meaningless.
RELATED -化 WORDS:
- 空洞化 - hollowing out
- 陳腐化 - becoming obsolete