Japanese word

割れる

Pronunciation

Romajiwareru

Meaning

  • verbbreak

Example

コップが割れました。ko ppu ga wa re ma shi ta

The glass broke.

Illustration for 割れる (break)

More examples

冷凍庫から出したグラスに熱い水を入れたら、グラスが割れました。rei tō ko ka ra da shi ta gu ra su ni atsu i mizu o i re ta ra gu ra su ga wa re ma shi ta

The glass broke when I poured hot water into it after taking it out of the freezer.

Core concept

割れる (wareru) refers to a once-whole object becoming cracked or divided without stating who caused the damage.

Common phrases

  • 真っ二つに割れるma ffuta tsu ni wa re ru

    break in half

  • 粉々に割れるkona gona ni wa re ru

    shatter into pieces

  • 簡単に割れるkan tan ni wa re ru

    break easily

Similar words

壊れるkowareru: An object or device becomes damaged and loses its normal function.
砕けるkudakeru: A hard object breaks into fragments through force or pressure.
折れるoreru: A narrow object separates into pieces because it bends too far.
欠けるkakeru: A portion of an object breaks away, leaving a missing part on its edge or surface.

Definition in Japanese

物が外からの力などで、ひびが入ったりいくつかに分かれたりして、もとの形を保てなくなる。mono ga soto ka ra no chikara na do de hi bi ga hai tta ri i ku tsu ka ni wa ka re ta ri shi te mo to no katachi o tamo te na ku na ru

Word origin

割れる (wareru) is a native Japanese verb with the same historical root as 割る (waru, "to split or break"); it describes the resulting separation rather than an agent's action.

Usage tips

  • For brittle objects such as glass and plates, this verb can describe either a complete break or a crack, so the object may still be in one piece.

Other meanings

  • crackverb

Related words

  • 割れやすいwareyasuieasy to breaki-adjective
  • 割れ目waremecracknoun
  • 割れ方warekataway of breakingnoun

Word lists with this word