The diary would be reduced to ashes and himself to vapor.

日记会化为灰烬，他自己会化为乌有。

youdao

Do you still remember what I said to you? "the passion held in hand will be reduced to ashes at once, but that hidden at the bottom of the heart will endure and remain fresh forever."

记得我跟你说过吗？激情握在手里边顷刻会化为灰烬，而藏在心底却可以历久常新。

youdao

There, as a symbol it could be done, was 81-year-old Maurice Reeves, the man whose family furniture shop was reduced to ashes in last Summer's riots and who this year re-opened it.

BBC: Nick Clegg's sticking to Plan A