滅
destroy · ruin · overthrow · perish
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of water and phonetic. Destroying with water.
Symbolism
Ruin, extinction, annihilation. Represents perishing.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Destruction and rebirth
Component Breakdown
water + 烕
Words & Expressions
Words written with 滅
Four-Character Compounds
支離滅裂
しりめつれつ
incoherent; inconsistent; illogical
心頭滅却
しんとうめっきゃく
clearing one's mind of all worldly thoughts
生者必滅
しょうじゃひつめつ
all living things must die
滅私奉公
めっしほうこう
selfless devotion
証拠隠滅
しょうこいんめつ
destruction of evidence
陰々滅々
いんいんめつめつ
gloomy and depressing; mournful
霊魂不滅
れいこんふめつ
immortality of the soul
千古不滅
せんこふめつ
everlasting; unchangeable; immortal
不朽不滅
ふきゅうふめつ
everlasting; eternal; immortal
寂滅為楽
じゃくめついらく
freedom from one's desires (entry into Nirvana) is true bliss
常住不滅
じょうじゅうふめつ
everlasting; forever unchanging; undying
是生滅法
ぜしょうめっぽう
the law of arising and ceasing; the law of creation and destruction
生滅滅已
しょうめつめつい
going beyond life and death and entering Nirvana
Anime & Manga
鬼滅の刃
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
A well-known work with 滅 in its Japanese title.
不滅のあなたへ
To Your Eternity
A well-known work with 滅 in its Japanese title.
呪術廻戦 死滅回游 前編
JUJUTSU KAISEN Season 3: The Culling Game Part 1
A well-known work with 滅 in its Japanese title.
劇場版「鬼滅の刃」無限城編 第一章 猗窩座再来
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
A well-known work with 滅 in its Japanese title.
乙女ゲームの破滅フラグしかない悪役令嬢に転生してしまった…
My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!
A well-known work with 滅 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
“ruin”
“overthrow”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 滅 mean in Japanese?
滅 means destroy, ruin, overthrow, perish.
How do you read 滅?
On'yomi: メツ (METSU). Kun'yomi: ほろ.びる、ほろ.ぶ、ほろ.ぼす (horobiru, horobu, horobosu).
How many strokes does 滅 have?
滅 has 13 strokes. Its radical is 水 (water).
Is 滅 a good kanji for a tattoo?
滅 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means destroy, ruin, overthrow, perish. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.