Japanese meaning of 風前の灯
Reading:
ふうぜんのともしび (fūzen no tomoshibi)
English Translation:
A candle in the wind
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
On the brink of extinction or collapse.
Cultural Context:
Used in literature and news about endangered culture, aging shops, or struggling firms.
滅びる寸前・風前のともしびの状態という意味。
文学・報道で、消えゆく文化・老舗の危機・経営難の企業などに用いられる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• 風前 (fūzen) = “before the wind” (noun phrase)
• の (no) = possessive/attributive particle
• 灯 (tō) = “lamp/light” (noun)
Noun phrase + の + noun, metaphor for a precarious situation about to be extinguished.
Trap for English Speakers
Literal meaning may confuse learners; it indicates something on the brink of collapse.
Example
Basic Example
今にも消えそうな状態は、まさに風前の灯だ。
A situation on the brink of collapse is like a candle in the wind.
Applied Example
逆転負け寸前のチームは風前の灯だ。
The team about to lose in the final seconds is a candle in the wind.