Japanese word

潰す

Pronunciation

Romajitsubusu

Meaning

  • verbcrush

Example

ぶどうを潰します。bu dō o tsubu shi ma su

I crush grapes.

Illustration for 潰す (crush)

More examples

空き缶を手で潰します。a ki kan o te de tsubu shi ma su

I crush an empty can by hand.

Core concept

Describes applying force to an object until it loses its shape, whether it is crushed, flattened, or smashed.

Common phrases

  • ぶどうを潰すbu dō o tsubu su

    crush grapes

  • にんにくを潰すni n ni ku o tsubu su

    crush garlic

  • 空き缶を潰すa ki kan o tsubu su

    crush an empty can

Similar words

押し潰すoshitsubusu: To flatten something by pressing it with force.
踏み潰すfumitsubusu: To crush something under the pressure of a foot.
砕くkudaku: To break something into small pieces by hitting or crushing it.

Definition in Japanese

物に力を加えて押しつぶし、形を失わせる。mono ni chikara o kuwa e te o shi tsu bu shi katachi o ushina wa se ru

Word origin

潰す (tsubusu) is a native Japanese verb formed with the transitive ending -su and is related to 潰れる (tsubureru), "to collapse or be crushed."

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 時間を潰す (jikan o tsubusu) means spending time until it passes, so the object can be time rather than a physical thing.

Other meanings

  • flattenverb
  • smashverb

Related words

  • 潰しtsubushiversatilitynoun

Word lists with this word