取り崩す・取崩す|とりくずすtorikuzusu[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
取り崩す取り崩す is the most common form. For beginners, use it when writing about demolishing something or drawing on savings little by little.
取崩す取崩す is a less common kanji-and-kana variant of 取り崩す. You may recognize it, but beginners should generally choose 取り崩す instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto demolish; to tear down; to pull down
- godan verb, transitive verbto draw on (one's savings, etc.) little by little; to break into (a reserve fund, etc.); to eat into
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 取り崩す（とりくずす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 取り崩します（とりくずします） |
| Negative (nai) | 取り崩さない（とりくずさない） |
| polite (masen) | 取り崩しません（とりくずしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 取り崩さず・取り崩さぬ（とりくずさず・とりくずさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 取り崩した（とりくずした） |
| polite (mashita) | 取り崩しました（とりくずしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 取り崩さなかった（とりくずさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 取り崩しませんでした（とりくずしませんでした） |
| Te form | 取り崩して（とりくずして） |
| Potential | 取り崩せる（とりくずせる） |
| Passive | 取り崩される（とりくずされる） |
| Causative | 取り崩させる（とりくずさせる） |
| Causative passive | 取り崩させられる（とりくずさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 取り崩せば（とりくずせば） |
| tara | 取り崩したら（とりくずしたら） |
| Volitional | 取り崩そう（とりくずそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 取り崩しましょう（とりくずしましょう） |
| Imperative | 取り崩せ（とりくずせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym取り壊すとりこわすNeutralFor demolishing buildings, as in 「古い家を取り壊す」. 「取り崩す」 is now more often used for drawing on savings bit by bit.
- Synonym壊すこわすNeutralThe most general word for breaking or destroying something. 「取り崩す」 focuses on dismantling or spending down bit by bit.
- Synonym取り払うとりはらうNeutralTo remove or clear away completely, as in 「垣根を取り払う」; stresses getting rid of entirely, while 「取り崩す」 suggests gradual dismantling or use.
- Synonym解体かいたいWrittenWritten/formal noun: demolition of buildings or dissolution of organizations, as in 「解体工事」.
- Synonym崩すくずすNeutralTo pull down, throw into disorder, or break a large bill into small change; stresses altering the original form.
- Synonym打ち壊すうちこわすNeutralMeans smashing to pieces, and figuratively breaking down old systems; stresses forceful destruction, with no link to drawing on savings.
- Synonymぶち壊すぶちこわすCasualColloquial: to smash up, or to ruin something, as in 「雰囲気をぶち壊す」. Never used for drawing on savings.
- Synonym叩き壊すたたきこわすNeutralTo smash by striking; stresses violent force, with no connection to drawing on savings.
- Synonymぶっ壊すぶっこわすCasualColloquial and rough: to destroy completely or botch something. 「取り崩す」 is far more neutral in tone.
- Related取り除くとりのぞくNeutralTo remove something in the way. 「取り崩す」 instead centers on dismantling or drawing on something bit by bit.
- Related壊滅かいめつWrittenWritten/formal noun for utter destruction, as in 「壊滅的な被害」; far more extreme in degree.
- Related破壊はかいWrittenWritten/formal noun for destruction, typically on a large scale or of systems; 「取り崩す」 is milder.
- Related大破たいはWrittenWritten/formal noun for severe damage, mostly to vehicles or ships in accidents.
- Related損壊そんかいWrittenWritten/formal noun for damage, common in legal contexts such as 「器物損壊」.
- Related滅ぼすほろぼすNeutralTo bring a country or enemy to ruin, or figuratively to destroy oneself.
- Related潰すつぶすNeutralTo crush or flatten, and broadly to shut a business down or kill time; a wide-ranging everyday verb.
- Related除去じょきょWrittenWritten/formal noun for removing obstacles or harmful substances, as in 「除去作業」.
- Related取り潰すとりつぶすWrittenWritten/formal: to abolish or shut down an organization or business, as in 「藩を取り潰す」.
- Related取り去るとりさるWrittenWritten/formal and fairly rare: to take away or remove. 「取り除く」 is the usual choice.
- Antonym積み上げるつみあげるNeutralAntonym: to pile up or accumulate bit by bit, the opposite of 「取り崩す」's gradual drawing down.
- Antonym組み立てるくみたてるNeutralAntonym: to assemble or put together, the opposite of 「取り崩す」's demolishing.
Use 「取り崩す」 for drawing on savings or funds little by little, as in 「貯金を取り崩す」, or for dismantling something piece by piece. For tearing down a building say 「取り壊す」; for smashing things up, 「ぶち壊す」 (colloquial). 「壊す」 is the all-purpose word for breaking. 「取り払う」 and 「取り除く」 cover removing things entirely; 「取り潰す」 and 「解体」 are formal for closing organizations or demolition. To build up savings instead, say 「積み上げる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
