盛衰

• Reading: せいすい
• Romaji: seisui
• Kanji breakdown: 盛 (sei) — flourishing, prosperity; 衰 (sui) — decline, waning
• Pronunciation: /seisɯi/

Meaning

Rise and fall; prosperity and decline; the cyclical fate of people, nations, and organisations.

A noun evoking the historical perspective that all things flourish and wane in turn. Common in historical writing, commentary on businesses or civilisations, and philosophical reflection. 栄枯盛衰 (the vicissitudes of fortune) is a related yojijukugo that extends this idea.

Examples

1. 王朝の盛衰を描いた大河ドラマが高視聴率を記録した。 A historical drama depicting the rise and fall of a dynasty achieved high ratings.
2. 企業の盛衰は時代の変化にいかに対応できるかにかかっている。 The fate of a company depends on how well it can adapt to the changes of the times.
3. 歴史は繰り返す — 盛衰は世の常だ。 History repeats itself — rise and fall are the way of the world.

Usage Guide

Context: history, business, philosophy, journalism

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

From 盛 (prosperity, flourishing) and 衰 (decline, fading). The pairing of opposites in a single word captures the inevitable cycle of growth and decay.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Present

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated