Japanese word

砕く

Pronunciation

Romajikudaku

Meaning

  • verbbreak into pieces

Example

錠剤を砕きます。jō zai o kuda ki ma su

I break the tablet into pieces.

Illustration for 砕く (break into pieces)

More examples

氷を砕いて、飲み物に入れます。kōri o kuda i te no mi mono ni i re ma su

I crush the ice and add it to my drink.

Core concept

Describes using force to reduce a solid object to smaller, less intact pieces, whether by striking, pressing, or grinding it.

Common phrases

  • 氷を砕くkōri o kuda ku

    crush ice

  • 薬を砕くkusuri o kuda ku

    crush medicine

  • 細かく砕くkoma ka ku kuda ku

    crush into small pieces

Similar words

割るwaru: To separate a solid object into pieces by breaking it, often along a natural or clear line.
打ち砕くuchikudaku: To break something apart with powerful blows or force.
すり潰すsuritsubusu: To grind a solid object until it becomes soft, fine, or paste-like.
粉砕するfunsaisuru: To crush a solid material into very small particles through force.

Definition in Japanese

力を加えて、固形物を細かい部分に分ける。chikara o kuwa e te ko kei butsu o koma ka i bu bun ni wa ke ru

Word origin

砕く (kudaku, "to break into pieces") is a native Japanese transitive verb paired with 砕ける (kudakeru, "to break apart"); the pair contrasts causing a thing to break with the thing breaking itself.

Usage tips

  • 砕く (kudaku) is used for solid materials ranging from food and ice to stone and medicine, so the object and result determine whether break, crush, or grind is the closest English choice.

Other meanings

  • crushverb
  • grindverb

Related words

  • 砕き方kudakikataway of crushingnoun

Word lists with this word