Japanese symbol for “wreck”
滅ぼす
ほろぼす
Romaji: horobosu
to destroy; to overthrow; to wreck; to ruin
In Japanese, wreck is 滅ぼす, read ほろぼす (horobosu).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5s, vt to destroy; to overthrow; to wreck; to ruin
Written forms: 滅ぼす、亡ぼす、滅す、亡す. Readings: ほろぼす.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “wreck”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 壊す | こわす kowasu | to wreck; to ruin; to spoil |
| 損ねる | そこねる sokoneru | to harm; to hurt; to injure |
| 潰す | つぶす tsubusu | to wreck; to break; to block |
| 残骸 | ざんがい zangai | ruins; wreckage; wreck |
| 形骸 | けいがい keigai | framework (of a building, etc.); skeleton; remains |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 消滅 | しょうめつ shoumetsu | extinction; extinguishment; disappearance |
| 破滅 | はめつ hametsu | ruin; destruction; fall |
| 絶滅 | ぜつめつ zetsumetsu | extinction; extermination |
| 滅亡 | めつぼう metsubou | downfall; ruin; collapse |
| 撲滅 | ぼくめつ bokumetsu | eradication; extermination; destruction |
| 全滅 | ぜんめつ zenmetsu | total destruction; complete destruction; annihilation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “wreck”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.