Translation guide
Expresses the idea of something being completely destroyed by fire, turning into ashes. Covers literal burning to figurative ruin.
Something is completely consumed by fire, leaving only ashes.
Neutral and common expression for 'turn to ashes' or 'be reduced to ashes'. Used for objects, buildings, etc.
家が火事で灰になった。
The house was reduced to ashes in the fire.
すべての書類が灰になった。
All the documents were reduced to ashes.
Plans, hopes, or abstract things are utterly destroyed, as if burned to ashes.
Also used figuratively for hopes, dreams, or plans being completely ruined.
彼の夢は灰になった。
His dreams were reduced to ashes.
計画はすべて灰になった。
All the plans were reduced to ashes.
Specifically means 'burn down' or 'be destroyed by fire', often for buildings. Implies collapse and complete destruction.
古い寺院が焼け落ちた。
The old temple burned down (was reduced to ashes).
Means 'burn out' or 'burn completely'. Can be used for fires that consume everything, leaving nothing but ashes.
キャンプファイヤーが燃え尽きて灰だけが残った。
The campfire burned out and only ashes remained.
Literary/formal expression meaning 'be reduced to ashes'. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.
城は戦火で灰燼に帰した。
The castle was reduced to ashes by the war.
Idiom meaning 'come to nothing' or 'end in failure'. Literally 'become bubbles on water', but conveys a similar sense of vanishing without trace.
努力が水の泡になった。
All my efforts were reduced to nothing (like ashes).
Means 'disappear without a trace'. Can be used when something is completely destroyed or vanishes, similar to being reduced to ashes.
証拠は跡形もなく消えた。
The evidence vanished without a trace (as if reduced to ashes).