The Meaning of fukkatsu [復活] In Japanese

復活
ふっかつ
Romaji: fukkatsu N3

What does 復活 mean?

Translation and Meaning

resurrection, revival, comeback

Definition

復活 means the act of returning to life or reviving after a period of inactivity, applicable to literal resurrection as well as secular revival of trends, status, or individuals.

Type

Noun (名詞), can be used with する to form 復活する

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Religious or mythic resurrection, such as bringing life back in a spiritual sense
  • Revival of a person’s career, a tradition, movement, or project after decline
  • Resurgence or comeback in popularity, interest, or activity

Composition

  • 復: return, again, restore
  • 活: life, living, activity
  • Combination: 復活 expresses bringing life back or a renewed state by joining ‘return’ and ‘life’

Usage

Used in formal and informal contexts to describe revival of institutions or ideas, in religious discussions to denote resurrection, and in everyday language to describe a person or product making a comeback; when paired with する it forms 復活する, a common verb in both written and spoken Japanese.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a phoenix returning to life—復 conveys ‘return’ and 活 conveys ‘life,’ together signaling a return to life.

Variations

  • 復活 (fukkatsu) — revival, coming back to life
  • 復興 (saikō) — revival, resurgence
  • 復元 (fukugen) — restoration

Example Phrases

  • 長い冬休みの後、店の客足が復活した。
    Nagai fuyuyasumi no ato, mise no kyaku-ashi ga fukkatsu shita.
    After a long winter break, the store’s foot traffic revived.
    Lista:
    • 長い (nagai) – long
    • 冬休み (fuyuyasumi) – winter vacation
    • の (no) – of
    • 後 (ato) – after
    • 店 (mise) – store
    • の (no) – of
    • 客足 (kyaku-ashi) – customer foot traffic
    • が (ga) – [subject marker]
    • 復活した (fukkatsu shita) – revived
    This uses the verb form 復活した to show a completed revival; 「復活」 marks revival, here referring to the store’s popularity returning.
復活