Japanese word

壊れる

Pronunciation

Romajikowareru

Meaning

  • verbbreak

Example

おもちゃが壊れました。o mo cha ga kowa re ma shi ta

The toy broke.

Illustration for 壊れる (break)

More examples

電池を替えても、リモコンは壊れたままです。den chi o ka e te mo ri mo ko n wa kowa re ta ma ma de su

Even after I changed the batteries, the remote stayed broken.

Core concept

It describes a thing losing its working state or physical integrity without focusing on an agent that caused the change.

Common phrases

  • 簡単に壊れるkan tan ni kowa re ru

    break easily

  • 突然壊れるtotsu zen kowa re ru

    break suddenly

  • 途中で壊れるto chū de kowa re ru

    break halfway

Similar words

故障するkoshōsuru: To stop working because of a fault, especially in a machine or device.
破損するhasonsuru: To become damaged, cracked, or broken, especially as a physical object.

Definition in Japanese

物などが、割れたり傷ついたりして本来の形や機能を失う。mono na do ga wa re ta ri kizu tsu i ta ri shi te hon rai no katachi ya ki nō o ushina u

Word origin

壊れる (kowareru) is a native Japanese verb whose exact historical formation is uncertain; its modern form describes a subject that comes to be damaged or unable to work.

Usage tips

  • English speakers use break for many objects that stop working, including phones and computers, even when the objects do not visibly crack.

Other meanings

  • break downverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 壊れやすいkowareyasuifragilei-adjective
  • 壊れ方kowarekataway of breakingnoun

Word lists with this word