亡骸(なきがら)

なきがら
noun
remains, corpse
formalliterary
1. remains, corpse, dead body
The body of a deceased person. A literary and respectful term, more elevated in register than 死体. Often used when treating the deceased with dignity.
亡骸(なきがら)は故郷(ふるさと)に送(おく)られた。
The remains were sent to the deceased's hometown.
家族(かぞく)は亡骸(なきがら)の前(まえ)で静(しず)かに手(て)を合(あ)わせた。
The family quietly put their hands together in prayer before the remains.
戦場(せんじょう)に残(のこ)された兵士(へいし)の亡骸(なきがら)を収容(しゅうよう)する作業(さぎょう)が続(つづ)けられた。
The work of recovering the remains of soldiers left on the battlefield continued.

A literary and respectful term for a dead body. Written with the kanji 亡(な)き (deceased) + 骸(がら) (shell, remains), though the word is often written in hiragana as なきがら.

Similar words

  • 亡骸(なきがら): literary, respectful; treats the body with dignity
  • 遺体(いたい): formal, standard term for a dead body (news, official contexts)
  • 死体(したい): clinical, neutral; can sound cold or blunt
  • 遺骨(いこつ): remains (specifically bones/ashes after cremation)

Usage

亡骸(なきがら) is primarily used in literary works, formal eulogies, and historical narratives. In everyday news reporting, 遺体(いたい) is preferred. 死体(したい) is used in medical, forensic, and police contexts.

Related Words

Compare: 遺体(いたい) (formal, standard term for a dead body)
Compare: 死体(したい) (clinical, neutral)
Compare: 遺骨(いこつ) (remains)
Compare: 遺骸(いがい) (remains)
Compare: 死骸(しがい) (carcass)
general
Added 2026.2.18 6:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
11500/11723_nakigara