To bury physically or to metaphorically consign something to oblivion.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To bury a deceased person in a grave.
- To hide or suppress facts or memories.
- Often used in literary or formal contexts.
Overview
- 1概要：「葬る」は、主に死者を弔い、墓地や土の中に収めるという行為を表す動詞です。古風で厳かな響きがあり、日常会話よりも文学や報道、あるいは儀式的な文脈でよく用いられます。2) 使用パターン：物理的な対象に対しては「遺体を葬る」「墓に葬る」といった形で使われます。一方で比喩的な意味では、「過去を葬る」「闇に葬る」のように、何らかの事実や感情を隠蔽し、忘れ去らせるというニュアンスを持ちます。3) 一般的な文脈：葬儀の場面や歴史的な記述、あるいはミステリー小説などで「秘密を闇に葬る」といった表現として頻繁に登場します。4) 類語比較：「埋める（うめる）」は単に穴に何かを入れるという物理的な動作を指しますが、「葬る」には死者に対する敬意や、二度と表に出さないという強い意志が含まれます。「埋葬する」はより専門的・事務的な用語であり、「葬る」の方が情緒的で文学的な深みがあります。
Examples
先祖をこの地に葬る。
formalI will bury my ancestors in this land.
彼はその秘密を闇に葬った。
literaryHe buried the secret in the darkness.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
葬り去る
To bury and leave behind
Often Confused With
Refers to the physical act of filling a hole. It lacks the ritualistic or secretive nuance of '葬る'.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
This verb is formal and carries a somber tone. It is rarely used in casual daily conversation. Use it when writing formal reports, literature, or discussing historical events.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use it for burying objects like treasure, which is incorrect. '埋める' should be used for physical objects. Only use '葬る' for people or abstract concepts like secrets.
Tips
Focus on the metaphorical usage
While its primary meaning is burial, you will encounter '葬る' often in news or novels when referring to secrets. Think of it as 'burying' something so deep it will never be found.
Avoid in casual settings
Using this word in a lighthearted conversation might sound overly dramatic or morbid. Use it only when discussing serious topics.
Respect for the deceased
In Japanese culture, handling the dead is treated with great solemnity. The word '葬る' carries that weight of respect and finality.
Word Origin
Derived from the ancient practice of burying the dead to show respect. The kanji 葬 consists of grass and death, symbolizing covering a body with earth.
Cultural Context
In Japan, the act of burial is deeply tied to Buddhist traditions. The word implies a final farewell and the closing of a chapter in one's life.
Memory Tip
Think of 'Home-uru' (sounds like 'homuru'). Imagine a home being buried underground. It helps to remember the finality of the action.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions「埋める」は単に土の中に何かを入れる物理的な動作を指します。一方「葬る」は、死者を弔うという宗教的・儀式的な意味合いが強く、比喩的に秘密を隠す際にも使われます。
不都合な事実や事件を、誰にも知られないように隠蔽することを指します。真相を完全に消し去るというネガティブな文脈でよく使われる慣用句です。
日常の軽い会話ではあまり使いません。非常に重いトピックや、文学的な表現をしたい時に使うのが適しています。
過去形は「葬った（ほうむった）」となります。物語の結末や歴史的事実を述べる際によく見かける形です。
Test Yourself
彼は不都合な真実を闇に___。
「闇に葬る」という慣用句として定着しているため、ここには「葬った」が入ります。
Score: /1
Summary
To bury physically or to metaphorically consign something to oblivion.
- To bury a deceased person in a grave.
- To hide or suppress facts or memories.
- Often used in literary or formal contexts.
Focus on the metaphorical usage
While its primary meaning is burial, you will encounter '葬る' often in news or novels when referring to secrets. Think of it as 'burying' something so deep it will never be found.
Avoid in casual settings
Using this word in a lighthearted conversation might sound overly dramatic or morbid. Use it only when discussing serious topics.
Respect for the deceased
In Japanese culture, handling the dead is treated with great solemnity. The word '葬る' carries that weight of respect and finality.
Examples
2 of 2先祖をこの地に葬る。
I will bury my ancestors in this land.
彼はその秘密を闇に葬った。
He buried the secret in the darkness.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Vocabulary
More family words
還暦
B160th birthday (celebration of completing a 60-year cycle).
〜くらい
B1About; approximately; to the extent that.
認め合う
B1To recognize each other's worth; to acknowledge.
知人
B1Acquaintance.
顔見知り
A2Acquaintance; someone you know by sight.
活発な
B1Active; lively; vigorous.
甘える
B1To be spoiled, to fawn; to behave like a pampered child.
思春期
B1Adolescence; the period of transition from childhood to adulthood.
養子
B1Adopted child; a child taken into one's family by legal means.
養親
B2Adoptive parent.
