灰燼(かいじん)

かいじん
noun
ashes; complete destruction
formalwrittenliterarychange
1. ashes; embers; ruins
Refers to ashes remaining after something has been burned, or figuratively to the state of total destruction or ruin. A literary word often used in formal or dramatic contexts.
町(まち)は灰燼(かいじん)に帰(き)した。
The town was reduced to ashes.
戦争(せんそう)で街(まち)が灰燼(かいじん)と化(か)した。
The city was turned to ashes by the war.
大火(たいか)によって歴史的(れきしてき)な建物(たてもの)が灰燼(かいじん)に帰(き)してしまった。
The historic buildings were reduced to ashes by the great fire.

Usage

A literary and formal word. Rarely used in everyday conversation but appears in written texts, historical accounts, and dramatic expressions.

Common collocations

  • 灰燼(かいじん)に帰(き)する (to be reduced to ashes)
  • 灰燼(かいじん)と化(か)す (to turn to ashes)

Writing

灰(はい) means "ash" and 燼(じん) means "cinders" or "embers." Together they emphasize total destruction by fire.

general
Added 2026.3.6 18:45 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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