絶滅（ぜつめつ、zetsumeつ）
- extinction

The Japanese word 絶滅 (ぜつめつ) means "extinction," "annihilation," or "eradication." It refers to the complete disappearance of a species, a group of organisms, or something else entirely. It describes the state of something no longer existing. It can also refer to the act or process of being extinguished or eliminated.

⚫︎ 恐竜は 絶滅 した。 Translation: Dinosaurs went extinct. ⚫︎ ある種の昆虫が 環境破壊 により 絶滅 の危機に瀕している。 Translation: A certain type of insect is facing the risk of extinction due to environmental destruction. ⚫︎ その事件は、彼の希望を 絶滅 させた。 Translation: That incident extinguished his hopes.

This word is used in formal and informal contexts. It's often used when discussing biology and the natural world, such as the extinction of species. It can also be used figuratively to describe the end of something non-biological, like a tradition, a hope, or a skill.

絶滅 is written using the kanji 絶 (zetsu, meaning "sever," "cut off"), and 滅 (metsu, meaning "destruction," "perish"). The reading is usually written in hiragana ぜつめつ. There are no major variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 滅亡 (めつぼう) - destruction, ruin. ⚫︎ 消滅 (しょうめつ) - disappearance, vanishing. ⚫︎ 根絶 (こんぜつ) - eradication, uprooting.

⚫︎ 誕生 (たんじょう) - birth, creation. ⚫︎ 生存 (せいぞん) - survival, existence. ⚫︎ 存続 (そんぞく) - continuation, persistence.

地球温暖化は多くの生物の 絶滅 を加速させている。 ・Translation: Global warming is accelerating the extinction of many living organisms. ・Explanation: This sentence demonstrates the use of 絶滅 in a scientific or environmental context, highlighting the impact of climate change.

彼の会社は、経営不振で 絶滅 の危機に瀕している。 ・Translation: His company is on the verge of extinction due to poor management. ・Explanation: This example uses 絶滅 figuratively, representing the potential failure and closure of a business.

The word 絶滅 is composed of the kanji 絶 and 滅. 絶 has a meaning of "to sever, to cut off, to cease" and 滅 signifies "to perish, to be destroyed". Together, they vividly illustrate the concept of complete disappearance or extinction.