消息

• Reading: しょうそく
• Romaji: shousoku
• Kanji breakdown: 消 (shou) — extinguish, disappear; 息 (soku) — breath, rest
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.so.kɯ/

Meaning

News (from someone); letter; contact. Information about someone's current situation or whereabouts.

A noun referring to news or information about a person, particularly their well-being or current circumstances. Often used when discussing someone who has been out of contact: 消息が途絶える (to lose contact), 消息を絶つ (to disappear/cut off contact), 消息不明 (whereabouts unknown). Has a somewhat literary or formal tone. Different from ニュース (news about events) — 消息 specifically concerns the personal situation of an individual.

Examples

1. 行方不明者の消息は今も分かっていない。 There is still no news about the whereabouts of the missing person.
2. 海外に移住した友人の消息が気になる。 I'm concerned about how my friend who moved abroad is doing.
3. 彼は突然消息を絶ち、誰にも連絡しなくなった。 He suddenly cut off all contact and stopped reaching out to anyone.

Usage Guide

Context: news, literature, personal correspondence

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese: 消 (shou, extinguish/disappear) + 息 (soku, breath/rest). Originally meant 'the appearing and disappearing of things' — the ebb and flow of life — which evolved to mean tidings or news about someone's condition.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated