取り壊す・取り毀す|とりこわすtorikowasu[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
取り壊す取り壊す is the most common and standard mixed kanji-kana spelling; use it in ordinary writing.
取り毀す取り毀す is a rarely used mixed kanji-kana spelling, so you will seldom see it; 取り壊す is the usual choice.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto demolish; to tear down; to pull down
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 取り壊す（とりこわす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 取り壊します（とりこわします） |
| Negative (nai) | 取り壊さない（とりこわさない） |
| polite (masen) | 取り壊しません（とりこわしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 取り壊さず・取り壊さぬ（とりこわさず・とりこわさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 取り壊した（とりこわした） |
| polite (mashita) | 取り壊しました（とりこわしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 取り壊さなかった（とりこわさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 取り壊しませんでした（とりこわしませんでした） |
| Te form | 取り壊して（とりこわして） |
| Potential | 取り壊せる（とりこわせる） |
| Passive | 取り壊される（とりこわされる） |
| Causative | 取り壊させる（とりこわさせる） |
| Causative passive | 取り壊させられる（とりこわさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 取り壊せば（とりこわせば） |
| tara | 取り壊したら（とりこわしたら） |
| Volitional | 取り壊そう（とりこわそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 取り壊しましょう（とりこわしましょう） |
| Imperative | 取り壊せ（とりこわせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym解体かいたいWrittenWritten: dismantling or demolishing a building, but also dissolving an organization or dissecting a body — senses 「取り壊す」 lacks.
- Synonym崩すくずすNeutralTo break a whole apart and change its shape; also to upset one's manner or a situation. 「取り壊す」 focuses on demolishing buildings and structures.
- Synonym取り払うとりはらうNeutralTo clear something away entirely — partitions, fences, buildings. 「取り壊す」 stresses demolition and is limited to buildings and structures.
- Synonym取り崩すとりくずすNeutralCan mean demolishing a building, but more often drawing on savings or funds bit by bit. 「取り壊す」 only covers demolition, never spending reserves.
- Related取り壊しとりこわしNeutralNoun form: the act or work of demolishing a building, as in 「取り壊し工事」; 「取り壊す」 is the corresponding verb.
- Related破壊はかいWrittenWritten/formal: broad term for destroying objects, functions or systems — a wider range than 「取り壊す」, which mainly covers demolishing buildings and structures.
- Related壊滅かいめつWrittenWritten: complete devastation leaving nothing of the original, stressing the severe result, as in 「壊滅的な被害」; 「取り壊す」 is the act of demolishing a building.
- Related壊すこわすNeutralEveryday word for breaking or ruining things or their function, even breaking a bill. 「取り壊す」 covers only demolishing buildings, a much narrower range.
- Related大破たいはWrittenWritten: severe damage, usually to vehicles or ships in accidents. 「取り壊す」 is the deliberate act of demolishing a building and says nothing about degree of damage.
- Related損壊そんかいWrittenWritten/formal: damage to an object, common in legal and news contexts like 「器物損壊」. 「取り壊す」 stresses actively demolishing a building.
- Related滅ぼすほろぼすNeutralTo bring ruin or downfall on nations or enemies, as in 「敵を滅ぼす」; its objects are countries and peoples, not buildings.
- Related潰すつぶすNeutralTo crush or flatten; also to shut a shop down or convert it to another use. 「取り壊す」 is about demolishing a structure and never means closing a business.
- Related打ち壊しうちこわしNeutralSmashing and wrecking; also the Edo-period riots over rice prices. 「取り壊す」 centers on tearing down a building's structure and does not stress striking.
- Relatedぶち壊しぶちこわしCasualColloquial: smashing or tearing things down, often figuratively ruining the mood etc. 「取り壊す」 is about demolishing structures and has no figurative sense.
- Related打ち壊すうちこわすNeutralTo destroy by striking; figuratively to smash an old system or overthrow it. 「取り壊す」 just tears down buildings, with no striking implied and no system sense.
- Relatedぶち壊すぶちこわすCasualRough colloquial word for smashing things to bits, or botching a plan or the mood. 「取り壊す」 is more neutral and means tearing down a building's structure.
- Related毀つこぼつWrittenArchaic and rare: general destroying or damaging. Say 「壊す」 in daily life; swap in 「取り壊す」 only when demolishing a building or structure.
- Related取り潰すとりつぶすWrittenWritten: to abolish or dissolve an organization, as in 「藩を取り潰す」; its targets are organizations and plans, never buildings.
- Related叩き壊すたたきこわすCasualColloquial: destroying something by hammering or slamming it — the method is the point. 「取り壊す」 just tears down buildings, with no striking implied.
- Relatedぶっ壊すぶっこわすCasualCoarse slang for smashing something to pieces, or wrecking a plan or mood. Fine casually even for tearing down a house, but formal demolition calls for 「取り壊す」.
- Antonym組み立てるくみたてるNeutralAntonym: to assemble parts into a whole, as in 「家具を組み立てる」, also to compose a text — the opposite of 「取り壊す」 in putting together versus tearing down.
- Antonym建設するNeutralAntonym: to construct buildings and facilities, as in 「ビルを建設する」 — the opposite of 「取り壊す」 in building versus tearing down.
Use 「取り壊す」 for demolishing a building, as in 「古いビルを取り壊す」; in construction contexts 「解体」 is also used. For breaking things in general say 「壊す」, and for smashing them 「ぶち壊す」. The antonym is 「建設する」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
