1.
to be reborn, to be reincarnated
To be born again in a new life after death, as in Buddhist or Hindu concepts of reincarnation.
鳥に生まれ変わりたい。
I want to be reborn as a bird.
もし生まれ変わったら、何になりたい？
If you were reborn, what would you want to be?
仏教では、人は死後に別の姿で生まれ変わると信じられている。
In Buddhism, it is believed that people are reborn in a different form after death.
2.
to be completely renewed, to be transformed
To undergo such a thorough change that something appears entirely new, as if reborn. Used figuratively for people, places, or organizations.
街が生まれ変わった。
The town has been completely transformed.
改装して、店が生まれ変わった。
After renovation, the shop was completely renewed.
古い工場が美術館として生まれ変わり、多くの観光客が訪れている。
The old factory has been reborn as an art museum, attracting many tourists.
USAGE:
A compound verb from 生まれる (to be born) + 変わる (to change). Sense 1 is the literal religious meaning of reincarnation, while sense 2 is the more common figurative usage meaning a dramatic transformation. The figurative use is very productive in modern Japanese.
GRAMMAR:
- Godan verb (五段), intransitive
- 生まれ変わり (noun form): rebirth, reincarnation
- Often used with に to indicate what one is reborn as: 鳥に生まれ変わる
- として生まれ変わる: to be reborn/transformed as
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ～に生まれ変わる: to be reborn as ~
- ～として生まれ変わる: to be renewed as ~
- 見違えるほど生まれ変わる: to be transformed beyond recognition