崩壊(ほうかい)

ほうかい
noun
collapse; disintegration; breakdown; decay
sciencesociety
1. collapse; disintegration; breakdown
The process of something falling apart or breaking down, whether physical structures, systems, or social institutions.
建物(たてもの)が崩壊(ほうかい)した。
The building collapsed.
家族(かぞく)の崩壊(ほうかい)は社会問題(しゃかいもんだい)だ。
The breakdown of the family is a social issue.
ソ連(れん)の崩壊(ほうかい)は世界(せかい)を変(か)えた。
The collapse of the Soviet Union changed the world.
2. decay (physics)
In physics, the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy, such as radioactive decay.
放射性(ほうしゃせい)崩壊(ほうかい)で別(べつ)の元素(げんそ)に変(か)わる。
It changes into a different element through radioactive decay.
核(かく)崩壊(ほうかい)の速度(そくど)は半減期(はんげんき)で表(あらわ)す。
The rate of nuclear decay is expressed as half-life.
ベータ崩壊(ほうかい)によって中性子(ちゅうせいし)が陽子(ようし)に変(か)わる。
In beta decay, a neutron changes into a proton.

Etymology

  • 崩(ほう) (crumble, collapse) + 壊(かい) (break, destroy)

崩壊(ほうかい)する - to collapse, to disintegrate

USAGE (Sense 1):
Used for physical structures, systems, or institutions.

USAGE (Sense 2):
Specifically refers to radioactive or nuclear decay.

Related Words

Related: 破局(はきょく) (breakup)
Related: 分解(ぶんかい) (disassembly)
Related: 破綻(はたん) (failure)
Compare: 破裂(はれつ) (burst, rupture, explosion)
Compare: 滅亡(めつぼう) (downfall, ruin, destruction)
Compare: 決壊(けっかい) (breach)
Compare: 破滅(はめつ) (ruin)
Compare: 破壊(はかい)する (to destroy)
general
Added 2026.1.31 11:22 · Revised 2026.10.13 21:25
09000/09067_houkai