遺骨(いこつ)

いこつ
noun
remains; ashes of the deceased; cremated bones
formal
1. remains; ashes of the deceased; cremated bones
The bones and ashes remaining after cremation, or the skeletal remains of a deceased person. In Japan, where cremation is nearly universal, this word most often refers to the cremated remains.
遺骨(いこつ)をお墓(はか)に納(おさ)める。
To inter the remains in a grave.
遺骨(いこつ)は骨壺(こつつぼ)に入(い)れて持(も)ち帰(かえ)った。
The remains were placed in an urn and brought home.
戦没者(せんぼつしゃ)の遺骨(いこつ)収集(しゅうしゅう)が今(いま)も続(つづ)いている。
The collection of war dead remains continues to this day.

In Japan, after cremation (火葬(かそう)), family members pick up the 遺骨(いこつ) with chopsticks (箸(はし)) in a ceremony called 骨上(こつあ)げ or 拾骨(しゅうこつ), placing them in a 骨壺(こつつぼ) (urn). Common collocations: 遺骨(いこつ)を拾(ひろ)う (to pick up remains), 遺骨(いこつ)を納(おさ)める (to inter remains), 遺骨(いこつ)収集(しゅうしゅう) (collection of remains). Related terms: 遺灰(いはい) (ashes), 遺体(いたい) (corpse, body).

Related Words

Compare: 亡骸(なきがら) (remains, corpse)
general
Added 2026.3.24 20:26 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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