1.
extinct volcano
A volcano considered no longer capable of erupting. The traditional classification opposed 死火山 to 活火山 (active) and 休火山 (dormant), though modern Japanese geology has largely abandoned this three-way split.
あの山は死火山だ。
That mountain is an extinct volcano.
死火山と呼ばれていた山が噴火した。
A mountain that had been called an extinct volcano erupted.
現在、気象庁は死火山という区分を使わず、すべての火山を活火山として扱っている。
Currently, the Meteorological Agency does not use the category "extinct volcano," instead treating all volcanoes as active.
Compound of 死 (dead) + 火山 (volcano). The label is now considered scientifically unreliable because some "extinct" volcanoes have erupted again.
RELATED TERMS:
- 活火山: active volcano — currently or recently erupting
- 休火山: dormant volcano — not active, but potentially capable of erupting
- 火山: volcano
- 噴火: eruption
USAGE:
Still common in general speech and older textbooks, but rare in current scientific writing. Japanese volcanology now classifies volcanoes that have erupted in the last 10,000 years as 活火山.