Japanese word

壊す

Pronunciation

Romajikowasu

Meaning

  • verbbreak

Example

子どもがおもちゃを壊しました。ko do mo ga o mo cha o kowa shi ma shi ta

The child broke the toy.

Illustration for 壊す (break)

More examples

スマートフォンを落として、壊しました。su mā to fo n o o to shi te kowa shi ma shi ta

I dropped my smartphone and broke it.

Core concept

It describes making something lose its original shape or ability to work through force or damage.

Common phrases

  • おもちゃを壊すo mo cha o kowa su

    break a toy

  • 機械を壊すki kai o kowa su

    break a machine

  • 関係を壊すkan kei o kowa su

    ruin a relationship

Similar words

破壊するhakaisuru: To destroy something through force or serious damage.
割るwaru: To break a hard object into separate pieces, often by applying force to a weak point.
砕くkudaku: To break something into smaller pieces, often by hitting or pressing it.

Definition in Japanese

物に力を加え、元の形や機能を保てない状態にする。mono ni chikara o kuwa e moto no katachi ya ki nō o tamo te na i jō tai ni su ru

Word origin

壊す (kowasu) is a native Japanese verb in the same word family as 壊れる (kowareru), but 壊す focuses on causing the damage rather than undergoing it.

Usage tips

  • 壊す (kowasu) also applies to abstract things such as peace, trust, or a dream when an action ruins or seriously harms them.

Other meanings

  • destroyverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 壊し方kowashikataway of breakingnoun

Word lists with this word