葬る
葬る en 30 segundos
- Hōmuru is a formal Japanese verb primarily meaning 'to bury' a person, used in funerals and historical contexts.
- It is frequently used metaphorically to mean 'hushing up' scandals or 'burying' secrets so they are forgotten.
- The most common idiom is 'yami ni hōmuru' (to bury in the dark), referring to corporate or political cover-ups.
- Unlike the general verb 'umeru', 'hōmuru' is reserved for people, significant objects, or dramatic social erasure.
The Japanese verb 葬る (ほうむる, hōmuru) is a multifaceted term that primarily refers to the act of burying a deceased person or placing them in a grave. At its most literal level, it is the standard verb for interment and funeral rites. However, its usage extends far beyond the cemetery, entering the realms of politics, social secrets, and personal history. When you use this word, you are describing the finality of putting something away where it cannot be seen or retrieved. In a literal sense, it carries the weight of ritual and mourning. In a metaphorical sense, it implies a deliberate effort to suppress information, end a career, or discard an idea so thoroughly that it is forgotten by the world.
- Literal Burial
- This refers to the physical act of interring a body or ashes. It is often used in historical contexts or formal reporting about funerals. For example, 'The ancient king was buried with his treasures' would use this verb to emphasize the act of placement into the earth.
- Metaphorical Suppression
- This is perhaps the most common way you will encounter the word in modern media. It refers to 'burying' a scandal, a plan, or a person's reputation. If a government hides a report, they are 'burying it in darkness' (yami ni hōmuru). It suggests a proactive, often secretive, removal from public consciousness.
- Historical Oblivion
- Used when discussing figures or events that have been forgotten by time or intentionally erased from history books. It carries a nuance of tragedy or cold efficiency, implying that the subject was cast aside and left to rot in the past.
亡くなった祖父を故郷の山に葬ることにした。
(We decided to bury our late grandfather in the mountains of his hometown.)
その不祥事は政治的な圧力によって闇に葬られた。
(That scandal was buried in the dark due to political pressure.)
In terms of register, 'hōmuru' is quite formal and literary. You won't hear it in casual daily conversation unless someone is speaking dramatically. However, in news broadcasts, literature, and period dramas (jidaigeki), it is a staple. The kanji itself (葬) is composed of 'grass' (艹) on top, 'death' (死) in the middle, and 'two hands' (廾) at the bottom, vividly depicting the ancient practice of laying a body in the grass and covering it with hands or tools. This visual etymology reinforces the word's primary meaning of final rest.
The verb 葬る is a Godan verb ending in 'ru'. Its conjugation follows the standard pattern for verbs like 'tsukuru' or 'toru'. Because it often deals with serious or heavy topics, it is frequently used in the passive voice (葬られる - to be buried) or the causative voice (葬らせる - to make someone bury). Understanding the particles used with 葬る is crucial for natural-sounding Japanese.
- Direct Object (〜を)
- The person or thing being buried is marked with 'wo'. This can be a physical body (遺体 - itai) or an abstract concept like a secret (秘密 - himitsu) or a plan (計画 - keikaku).
- Location/Method (〜に / 〜へ)
- The destination of the burial is marked with 'ni' or 'he'. Common locations include 'grave' (墓 - haka), 'darkness' (闇 - yami), or 'oblivion' (忘却 - bōkyaku).
真実を一生自分の胸の中に葬るつもりだ。
(I intend to bury the truth in my heart for the rest of my life.)
One of the most powerful uses of 葬る is in the idiom '闇に葬る' (yami ni hōmuru). This literally means 'to bury in darkness,' but it translates to 'to hush up' or 'to cover up' a crime or scandal. This phrase is used when powerful entities ensure that a piece of information never reaches the public eye. Another common pattern is '歴史の闇に葬る', which refers to historical events being erased or forgotten by time.
彼はその失敗をなかったことにしようと、証拠を葬り去った。
(He buried the evidence away in an attempt to act as if the failure never happened.)
While you might not use 葬る when buying groceries, it is a word you will encounter frequently in Japanese media and literature. It carries a certain 'weight' that makes it ideal for dramatic storytelling and serious journalism. Here are the primary contexts where the word appears:
- News and Documentaries: Reporters use 'yami ni hōmuru' when discussing corporate cover-ups or political corruption. You might hear: 'The truth about the environmental disaster was buried by the company.'
- Historical Dramas (Taiga Dramas): In stories about the Samurai or the Imperial Court, 'hōmuru' is used for the burial of fallen warriors or the political 'disposal' of rivals.
- Detective and Mystery Novels: The 'buried secret' is a classic trope. A character might say, 'I will take this secret to my grave' (kono himitsu wo haka made hōmuru).
- Academic Writing: Historians use it to describe how certain cultures or practices were 'buried' or superseded by others over time.
「あいつを社会的に葬ってやる」と彼は叫んだ。
('I'll bury him socially!' he shouted.)
In modern Japanese pop culture, particularly in anime or manga, you might hear a villain use 'hōmuru' when they are about to defeat the hero, implying they are not just killing them, but erasing them from existence. It sounds much more menacing and final than 'korosu' (to kill). It implies a total removal from the world of the living and the world of memory.
- Social Burial (社会的抹殺)
- This concept, often paired with 'hōmuru', refers to destroying someone's career and reputation so completely that they can no longer function in society. It's the ultimate 'cancel culture' in a Japanese context.
Learning 葬る requires distinguishing it from other 'burying' or 'hiding' verbs. English speakers often default to 'umeru' (埋める) because it is simpler, but using the wrong word can change the nuance from 'funeral' to 'construction site'.
- 葬る vs. 埋める (Umeru)
- Use 'umeru' for filling holes, burying trash, or planting seeds. Use 'hōmuru' for people, rituals, and metaphorical 'erasing'. If you say 'I buried my grandfather' using 'umeru', it sounds like you treated him like a piece of garbage or a hidden treasure, rather than a human being deserving of a rite.
- 葬る vs. 隠す (Kakusu)
- 'Kakusu' is simply to hide. You can hide your phone or hide a person in a closet. 'Hōmuru' implies a permanent removal. You don't just hide a secret; you bury it so it never comes back.
Another mistake is the reading. While the kanji 葬 is also found in 葬式 (sōshiki - funeral), the verb is 'hōmuru', not 'sōru'. Students often misread it because they are familiar with the 'sō' reading from the noun. Always remember the 'hō' sound for the verb form.
To truly master the concept of 'burying' in Japanese, you should be aware of these related terms and how they differ in register and nuance.
- 埋葬する (Maisō-suru)
- This is the technical, clinical term for interment. You will see it on legal documents, death certificates, and in history books. It lacks the dramatic or metaphorical flair of 'hōmuru'.
- 埋める (Umeru)
- The general verb for burying anything in the ground. It is the most common word in daily life for physical objects.
- 抹殺する (Massatsu-suru)
- To erase or obliterate. Often used in the context of 'social erasure' (shakaiteki massatsu). It is more aggressive than 'hōmuru'.
- 封印する (Fūin-suru)
- To seal away. Used for powers, memories, or documents that are intentionally locked away but still exist in some form.
遺体は静かに墓地に埋葬された。
(The remains were quietly interred in the cemetery - more formal/technical.)
How Formal Is It?
Dato curioso
The kanji 葬 depicts a body (死) placed between grass (艹) and hands (廾). This reflects the ancient 'Mogari' period where bodies were kept in a temporary hut before final burial.
Guía de pronunciación
- Reading it as 'sōru' because of the kanji '葬' in '葬式' (sōshiki).
- Shortening the 'hō' to a short 'ho'.
- Pronouncing the 'r' like an English 'r' instead of a tap.
- Confusing the pitch accent with 'humiru'.
- Miswriting the kanji with only one 'grass' radical.
Nivel de dificultad
The kanji is complex but common in news. The reading is unique.
The kanji 葬 has many strokes and is easy to miswrite.
Pronunciation is easy, but choosing the right context is hard.
Distinctive sound, usually clear in context.
Qué aprender después
Requisitos previos
Aprende después
Avanzado
Gramática que debes saber
Passive voice for social consequences
彼は社会的に葬られた。
Compound verbs with -saru
証拠を葬り去る。
Using 'ni' for the destination of burial
闇に葬る。
Volitional form for attempted actions
真実を葬ろうとした。
Nominalizing verbs with 'koto'
過去を葬ることは難しい。
Ejemplos por nivel
お墓に葬る。
To bury in a grave.
Simple 'ni' particle for location.
犬を庭に葬った。
I buried the dog in the garden.
Past tense of a Godan verb.
彼は葬るという言葉を知っている。
He knows the word 'hōmuru'.
Using a verb as a noun phrase with 'to iu'.
どこに葬りますか?
Where will you bury it?
Polite question form.
花を土に葬る。
Bury the flowers in the earth.
Literal physical burial.
古い人形を葬る。
Bury an old doll.
Using 'hōmuru' for objects with 'souls'.
静かに葬る。
Bury quietly.
Adverbial use of 'shizuka ni'.
家族が彼を葬った。
The family buried him.
Subject marked with 'ga'.
王様を金と一緒に葬る。
Bury the king along with gold.
'Issho ni' means 'together with'.
秘密を土の中に葬った。
I buried the secret in the ground.
Metaphorical use for a physical secret.
その事件は闇に葬られた。
That incident was buried in the dark.
Passive voice 'hōmureru'.
彼は歴史の中に葬られた。
He was buried in history.
Metaphorical 'in history'.
私たちは彼を温かく葬った。
We buried him warmly (with care).
Adverb 'atatakaku' describing the manner.
ゴミを葬るのではなく、捨てます。
Don't 'bury' trash, throw it away.
Contrast between 'hōmuru' and 'suteru'.
誰が彼を葬ったのですか?
Who buried him?
Explanatory 'no desu ka'.
死者を葬る場所を探す。
Look for a place to bury the dead.
Verb modifying a noun 'basho'.
証拠を闇に葬るつもりだ。
I intend to bury the evidence in the dark.
'Tsumori' expresses intention.
その計画は反対意見によって葬り去られた。
The plan was completely buried by opposing opinions.
'Hōmuri-saru' adds the nuance of 'away/completely'.
真実を一生葬り続けることはできない。
You cannot keep the truth buried forever.
Compound verb 'hōmuri-tsuzukeru'.
彼はライバルを社会的に葬った。
He buried his rival socially.
Adverbial use of 'shakaiteki ni'.
過去の過ちを葬りたい。
I want to bury my past mistakes.
'Tai' form for desire.
その噂はすぐに葬られた。
That rumor was quickly buried.
Passive voice describing a rumor.
彼はその秘密を墓まで葬る覚悟だ。
He is prepared to bury that secret to the grave.
'Kakugo' means resolution/preparedness.
彼らは真実を闇に葬ろうとした。
They tried to bury the truth in the dark.
Volitional form + 'to shita' (tried to).
政権交代によって、その法案は葬り去られた。
With the change of government, that bill was buried.
'Ni yotte' indicates the cause.
彼は自らのスキャンダルを闇に葬るために奔走した。
He scrambled to bury his own scandal in the dark.
'Tame ni' indicates purpose.
一度葬られた名声を取り戻すのは難しい。
It is difficult to regain a reputation once it has been buried.
Relative clause modifying 'meisei'.
その事実は歴史の闇に葬られるべきではない。
That fact should not be buried in the shadows of history.
'Beki dewa nai' means 'should not'.
彼は反対派を次々と葬り、独裁体制を築いた。
He buried his opponents one after another and built a dictatorship.
Te-form used for a sequence of actions.
忘れ去られた英雄たちが、ここに葬られている。
Forgotten heroes are buried here.
State of being 'hōmurarete iru'.
不都合な真実を葬ることは、さらなる悲劇を招く。
Burying inconvenient truths leads to further tragedy.
Gerund-like use of 'koto' as a subject.
彼はそのアイディアを永遠に葬ることに決めた。
He decided to bury that idea forever.
'Koto ni kimeta' means 'decided to'.
権力者はしばしば、自らに不都合な歴史を闇に葬る。
Those in power often bury history that is inconvenient to them.
Formal 'shibashiba' for 'often'.
彼の功績は、嫉妬に狂った同僚たちによって葬られたのだ。
His achievements were buried by colleagues driven mad by jealousy.
Emphatic 'no da' at the end.
この古い慣習は、時代の波に葬り去られる運命にある。
This old custom is destined to be buried by the waves of time.
'Unmei ni aru' means 'to be destined to'.
真実を闇に葬る隠蔽工作が、組織ぐるみで行われていた。
A cover-up operation to bury the truth was being carried out by the entire organization.
'Gurumi' means 'involving the whole'.
彼は自らの野望とともに、静かに海へ葬られた。
He was quietly buried at sea along with his ambitions.
Poetic 'tomo ni' for 'along with'.
一度葬り去られた計画が、十年後に再び脚光を浴びた。
The plan that was once buried came into the spotlight again ten years later.
'Kyakkō wo abiru' is an idiom for 'stepping into the spotlight'.
彼は過去を葬り、新しい名前で人生をやり直した。
He buried his past and started his life over with a new name.
Compound verb 'yarinaosu' (redo).
その作家の未発表原稿は、遺言通りに葬られた。
The author's unpublished manuscripts were buried according to their will.
'Dōri ni' means 'according to'.
真実を闇に葬ることは、民主主義の根幹を揺るがす行為である。
Burying the truth is an act that shakes the very foundation of democracy.
Formal 'de aru' ending.
その独裁者は、自らの失政を隠すために、数多の知識人を葬ってきた。
To hide his misrule, that dictator has buried numerous intellectuals.
'Amata no' is a literary word for 'many'.
悠久の時を経て、かつての文明は砂漠の下に葬り去られた。
After an eternity, the former civilization was buried beneath the desert.
'Yūkyū no toki' is a very formal expression for 'eternal time'.
言論の自由を葬ることは、社会の進歩を止めることに他ならない。
Burying freedom of speech is nothing other than stopping social progress.
'Ni hoka naranai' means 'is nothing other than'.
彼は自らの罪を、深い悔恨とともに心の中に葬り去った。
He buried his sins within his heart along with deep remorse.
'Kaikon' is a formal word for 'remorse'.
その革命は、旧体制の腐敗を歴史の闇に葬るためのものであった。
That revolution was intended to bury the corruption of the old regime in the shadows of history.
'Mono de atta' explains the purpose or nature of something.
葬り去られた記憶の断片が、ふとした瞬間に蘇る。
Fragments of buried memories resurface in an unexpected moment.
'Yomigaeru' means 'to be resurrected/restored'.
彼は一族の汚名を葬るべく、命を懸けて戦った。
He fought with his life on the line in order to bury the clan's dishonor.
'Beku' is a literary form meaning 'in order to'.
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
— To hush up a scandal or crime so it never becomes public knowledge.
政治家は不祥事を闇に葬った。
— To ensure an event is forgotten by history or intentionally erased from records.
その虐殺の事実は歴史の闇に葬られた。
— To destroy someone's reputation so they can no longer live a normal life in society.
彼はネットの炎上によって社会的に葬られた。
— To completely discard or get rid of something, often an old idea or a past mistake.
古い慣習を葬り去るべきだ。
— While not using 'hōmuru' directly, it's the conceptual partner: to take a secret to the grave.
この秘密は墓まで持って行く。
— A funeral address or eulogy (using the same '葬' kanji).
彼は友人のために葬送の辞を述べた。
— To hold a funeral service.
自宅で葬儀を行う。
— An even more emphatic way to say 'to hush up completely'.
証拠をすべて闇に葬り去った。
— To consign something to the depths of forgetfulness.
苦い思い出を忘却の中に葬る。
— To bury beneath the soil (literal).
小鳥を土の下に葬った。
Modismos y expresiones
— To cover up a crime or scandal so it is never revealed to the public.
汚職事件を闇に葬る。
Formal/News— To cause a fact or person to be forgotten by history.
真実は歴史の闇に葬られた。
Literary— To ruin someone's reputation and career completely.
彼はデマによって社会的に葬られた。
Journalistic— To force oneself or others to completely forget something.
辛い過去を忘却の彼方に葬る。
Poetic— To get rid of something permanently (often an ideology or system).
封建制度を葬り去る。
Academic— To handle something secretly from start to finish so no one notices.
裏金を闇から闇へ葬る。
Suspenseful— To keep a secret inside oneself until death.
その告白を胸の内に葬る。
Literary— Literal burial, but often used with a sense of finality in literature.
亡骸を故郷の土に葬る。
Formal— To be hushed up and forgotten by the world (passive).
彼の発明は闇に葬り去られた。
Dramatic— To discard something without even a second thought.
彼の提案を一顧だにせず葬った。
Formal/HarshPatrones de oraciones
[Noun] を闇に葬る
真実を闇に葬る。
[Noun] を墓に葬る
遺体
Familia de palabras
Sustantivos
Verbos
Adjetivos
Relacionado
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
Think of 'HOME' + 'RU'. When someone dies, you send them to their final HOME (hōmu) and then you bury (ru) them. Or, imagine 'HOLDING' (hō) 'MUD' (mu) to bury someone.
Asociación visual
Visualize the kanji: Grass on top, a dead body in the middle, and two hands at the bottom pushing it down into the earth.
Word Web
Desafío
Write a short sentence about burying a time capsule using 'hōmuru' to make it sound more dramatic, then try to use 'yami ni hōmuru' to describe a movie plot.
Origen de la palabra
The word 'hōmuru' comes from the ancient Japanese root related to 'putting something away' or 'protecting'. In Old Japanese, it was linked to the idea of placing something in a secluded or sacred place.
Significado original: To place a body in a designated area (often covered with grass) to return it to the earth.
JaponicContexto cultural
This is a heavy word related to death. Be respectful when using it in its literal sense. In metaphorical senses, it can imply corruption or malice.
In English, we say 'bury the hatchet' or 'bury a secret'. 'Hōmuru' maps well to 'bury a secret', but 'bury the hatchet' (make peace) would use 'wakai suru' instead.
Practica en la vida real
Contextos reales
Funerals
- 墓に葬る
- 遺体を葬る
- 手厚く葬る
- 故郷に葬る
Politics/Scandals
- 闇に葬る
- 不祥事を葬る
- 計画を葬り去る
- 証拠を葬る
History
- 歴史の闇に葬る
- 過去を葬る
- 英雄を葬る
- 文明を葬る
Social Situations
- 社会的に葬る
- 噂を葬る
- 名声を葬る
- 存在を葬る
Personal Feelings
- 秘密を胸に葬る
- 過ちを葬りたい
- 記憶を葬る
- 夢を葬る
Inicios de conversación
"日本の葬儀の習慣についてどう思いますか? (What do you think about Japanese funeral customs?)"
"「闇に葬る」という表現をニュースで聞いたことがありますか? (Have you ever heard the expression 'bury in the dark' on the news?)"
"歴史の中で、闇に葬られた真実があると思いますか? (Do you think there are truths buried in the shadows of history?)"
"忘れたい過去を「葬り去る」ことは可能だと思いますか? (Do you think it's possible to 'bury away' a past you want to forget?)"
"誰かを「社会的に葬る」という言葉は、現代のSNS社会に合っていると思いますか? (Do you think the phrase 'socially bury' fits today's SNS society?)"
Temas para diario
もしあなたが絶対に誰にも言えない秘密を持っていたら、それをどこに葬りますか? (If you had a secret you could never tell anyone, where would you bury it?)
現代社会において、不都合な真実が「闇に葬られる」のを防ぐにはどうすればいいでしょうか? (In modern society, how can we prevent inconvenient truths from being 'buried in the dark'?)
あなたが「葬り去りたい」と思う自分の欠点はありますか? (Are there any flaws of yours that you want to 'bury away'?)
「歴史は勝者によって作られる」と言われますが、葬られた敗者の歴史について書いてください。 (It is said 'history is written by the victors'; write about the buried history of the losers.)
大切なペットを葬った時の思い出や、その時の気持ちについて書いてください。 (Write about your memories or feelings when you buried a precious pet.)
Summary
The verb 葬る (hōmuru) captures the finality of burial, whether physical or metaphorical. Use it for funerals or when describing a deliberate, serious effort to make a secret or a person's reputation disappear forever. Example: 真実を闇に葬る (To bury the truth in the dark).
- Hōmuru is a formal Japanese verb primarily meaning 'to bury' a person, used in funerals and historical contexts.
- It is frequently used metaphorically to mean 'hushing up' scandals or 'burying' secrets so they are forgotten.
- The most common idiom is 'yami ni hōmuru' (to bury in the dark), referring to corporate or political cover-ups.
- Unlike the general verb 'umeru', 'hōmuru' is reserved for people, significant objects, or dramatic social erasure.
Ejemplo
彼は亡くなったペットを庭に葬った。
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