1.
to lay waste, to devastate, to ravage, to damage
To cause destruction or disorder to a place, field, or environment. Used for storms devastating an area, animals destroying a garden, or vandals trashing a place.
台風が畑を荒らした。
The typhoon devastated the fields.
猪が山から下りてきて田んぼを荒らす。
Wild boars come down from the mountains and damage the rice paddies.
嵐が去ったあと、海岸は見るも無残に荒らされていた。
After the storm passed, the coastline had been devastated beyond recognition.
2.
to ransack, to break into, to vandalize
To enter a place and create disorder, often by searching through things or committing burglary.
留守中に家を荒らされた。
My house was ransacked while I was away.
ゴミ捨て場をカラスに荒らされた。
The garbage dump was torn apart by crows.
泥棒に部屋を荒らされて、引出しの中身が全部床に散乱していた。
My room was ransacked by a burglar, and the contents of the drawers were scattered all over the floor.
CONJUGATION:
Godan verb (五段). 荒らす → 荒らさない → 荒らして → 荒らした
USAGE:
The passive form 荒らされる is very common, as the focus is often on the victim or the damaged area rather than the agent. Closely related to the intransitive verb 荒れる (to become rough/desolate).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 畑を荒らす: to damage/destroy the fields
- 家を荒らす: to ransack a house
- 場を荒らす: to cause trouble at a gathering