壊す・毀す|こわすkowasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
壊す壊す is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners. Use it when writing this word.
毀す毀す is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter it and generally should choose 壊す instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto break; to destroy; to demolish
- godan verb, transitive verbto wreck; to ruin; to spoil; to damage
- godan verb, transitive verbto break (a bill, etc.)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 壊す（こわす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 壊します（こわします） |
| Negative (nai) | 壊さない（こわさない） |
| polite (masen) | 壊しません（こわしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 壊さず・壊さぬ（こわさず・こわさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 壊した（こわした） |
| polite (mashita) | 壊しました（こわしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 壊さなかった（こわさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 壊しませんでした（こわしませんでした） |
| Te form | 壊して（こわして） |
| Potential | 壊せる（こわせる） |
| Passive | 壊される（こわされる） |
| Causative | 壊させる（こわさせる） |
| Causative passive | 壊させられる（こわさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 壊せば（こわせば） |
| tara | 壊したら（こわしたら） |
| Volitional | 壊そう（こわそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 壊しましょう（こわしましょう） |
| Imperative | 壊せ（こわせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
おもちゃを壊す
壊れる emphasizes the state change of the object itself (something breaks), while 壊す emphasizes an agent's action causing that change (someone breaks something).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym損なうそこなうWrittenWritten verb for harming or impairing something, very often health or mood, as in 「健康を損なう」. 「壊す」 is the everyday word for breaking.
- Synonym取り崩すとりくずすNeutralTo tear something down, or to dip into savings bit by bit, as in 「貯金を取り崩す」. 「壊す」 has no 'use up gradually' sense.
- Synonymぶち壊すぶちこわすCasualColloquial: to smash something hard, or to ruin an atmosphere, as in 「雰囲気をぶち壊す」. Rougher than 「壊す」.
- Synonymぶっ壊すぶっこわすCasualColloquial: to break or smash something completely with force, or to botch it, as in 「パソコンをぶっ壊す」. As rough and forceful in tone as 「ぶち壊す」.
- Synonym叩き壊すたたきこわすNeutralTo break something by striking it, as in 「ハンマーで叩き壊す」. The emphasis is on hitting hard, which 「壊す」 alone does not convey.
- Related取り壊すとりこわすNeutralTo demolish a structure such as a building or wall, as in 「古い家を取り壊す」. 「壊す」 takes any object — machines, even one's body.
- Related破壊はかいWrittenWritten noun for destruction, as in 「環境破壊」 or 「細胞を破壊する」. Often used for complex structures or systems; 「壊す」 is the more colloquial verb.
- Related損壊そんかいWrittenWritten term for damage or destruction, as in 「器物損壊」. Common in legal contexts, unlike everyday 「壊す」.
- Related潰すつぶすNeutralTo crush or flatten, or drive a company under, as in 「会社を潰す」; also killing time, 「時間を潰す」. 「壊す」 breaks things without implying crushing.
- Related毀つこぼつWrittenWritten, archaic word for destroying or damaging something; rarely seen in modern Japanese. Use 「壊す」 in everyday speech.
- Relatedぶっ潰すぶっつぶすCasualColloquial: to crush or wipe out completely, as in 「敵をぶっ潰す」. Blunt, violent tone compared with 「壊す」.
- Related取り潰すとりつぶすNeutralTo dissolve or abolish an organization, or scrap a plan, as in 「藩を取り潰す」. 「壊す」 is mostly for breaking physical things.
- Related打ち壊しうちこわしWrittenWritten noun for destruction, and for the Edo-period urban riots over rice prices. 「壊す」 is the everyday verb.
- Relatedぶち壊しぶちこわしCasualColloquial noun for having ruined something, as in 「雰囲気がぶち壊しだ」. 「壊す」 is a verb and far more versatile.
- Antonym作るつくるNeutralAntonym: to make or prepare something, as in 「料理を作る」. The direct opposite of breaking things with 「壊す」.
- Antonym建てるたてるNeutralAntonym to the demolish side of 「壊す」: to build, as in 「家を建てる」.
- Antonym修復するWrittenWritten antonym: to repair or restore, as in 「壁画を修復する」 — putting back what 「壊す」 has destroyed.
For breaking something, 「壊す」 is the default. For rough, violent smashing or botching an atmosphere, use the colloquial 「ぶち壊す」 or 「ぶっ壊す」; for demolishing a house or wall, 「取り壊す」; for destruction in written or formal prose, 「破壊」; for crushing flat or putting a company under, 「潰す」. 「損壊」 and 「損なう」 are written terms for damage or harm, 「取り潰す」 dissolves organizations, 「取り崩す」 also covers dipping into savings, and 「作る」 is the antonym.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
