destroy / perish
N1- Onyomi
- メツ
- Kunyomi
- ほろ(びる)
- Stroke count
- 13
- JLPT
- N1
Onyomi are readings often used in compound words. Kunyomi are native Japanese readings. Learn each reading with an example word.
Memory tip
Break 滅 down and you get 氵 (water) — three drops of water running down the left edge. Picture a river bending past a stone in its current, put 滅 inside it, and let that scene stand for "destroy" — destroy / perish. The odder the picture, the better it sticks.
Stroke Order
Stroke count: 13
General writing tips
These general rules have exceptions. Follow the animation and numbered frames for this character.
- •上から下へ書きます。Write from top to bottom.
- •左から右へ書きます。Write from left to right.
- •横の画を先に、縦の画を後に書きます。Write horizontal strokes before the vertical strokes that cross them.
- •外側の囲みを先に書き、中を後で書きます。Draw an outer enclosure first, then fill in what is inside.
- •中央を先に、左右を後に書きます。In symmetric shapes, write the centre before the left and right sides.
- •この漢字は13画です。下の練習エリアで順番に書いてみましょう。This kanji has 13 strokes — trace them in order in the practice area below.
Step by step
Practice Writing
Free writing practice — compare your writing with the example. This canvas does not check your shape or stroke order. Draw with a mouse, finger, or pen; scroll outside the square to move down the page.
Trace the faded character, or hide the outline to practise from memory.
Writing Tips
- Follow the order strictly: top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Correct order makes the shape balanced and natural.
- Keep each stroke in one smooth motion — don't lift the pen in the middle of a stroke.
- Close enclosing strokes cleanly so the character does not look open or broken.
- Common mistake: drawing strokes bottom-to-top or right-to-left. Even if the result looks similar, the wrong order shows in handwriting and makes it harder to read.
Example words
滅びる
horobiru
to perish
滅びて
horobite
perish — te-form
滅びます
horobimasu
perish — polite present
滅びない
horobinai
perish — plain negative
滅びました
horobimashita
perish — polite past
滅びません
horobimasen
perish — polite negative
Example sentences (2)
その文明は千年前に滅びました。
その ぶんめい は せんねんまえ に ほろびました。
sono bunmei wa sennenmae ni horobimashita.
That civilization perished a thousand years ago.
使われなくなった言葉は、記録に残らなければ滅びてしまいます。
つかわれなく なった ことば は、きろく に のこらなければ ほろびて しまいます。
tsukawarenaku natta kotoba wa, kiroku ni nokoranakereba horobite shimaimasu.
Words that fall out of use die out unless they are set down in records.