壊れる・毀れる|こわれるkowareru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
壊れる壊れる is the most common form and is written with kanji and kana; beginners should use it as their default choice.
毀れる毀れる is written with kanji and kana but is rarely used; beginners should choose 壊れる instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be broken; to break; to fall apart; to collapse; to be destroyed; to be damaged
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto break (down); to stop working
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto fall through (of a plan, deal, etc.); to collapse; to break down (of a relationship, negotiations, etc.); to be broken off; to be ruined (of an atmosphere, one's image, etc.)
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 壊れる（こわれる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 壊れます（こわれます） |
| Negative (nai) | 壊れない（こわれない） |
| polite (masen) | 壊れません（こわれません） |
| classical zu / nu | 壊れず・壊れぬ（こわれず・こわれぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 壊れた（こわれた） |
| polite (mashita) | 壊れました（こわれました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 壊れなかった（こわれなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 壊れませんでした（こわれませんでした） |
| Te form | 壊れて（こわれて） |
| Potential | 壊れられる（こわれられる） |
| Passive | 壊れられる（こわれられる） |
| Causative | 壊れさせる（こわれさせる） |
| Causative passive | 壊れさせられる（こわれさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 壊れれば（こわれれば） |
| tara | 壊れたら（こわれたら） |
| Volitional | 壊れよう（こわれよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 壊れましょう（こわれましょう） |
| Imperative | 壊れろ（こわれろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
おもちゃが壊れる
壊れる focuses on the object undergoing a change into a broken state, often without mentioning a cause, while 壊す focuses on an agent acting to bring about that breakage.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym割れるわれるNeutralFor hard objects splitting into pieces, as in 「皿が割れる」; the focus is on the object cracking or splitting apart, while 「壊れる」 covers damage or breakdown in general.
- Synonym砕けるくだけるNeutralBreaking into small pieces, as in 「波が砕ける」; it also describes a person's manner becoming relaxed and easygoing.
- Synonym潰れるつぶれるNeutralBeing crushed or squashed flat, as in 「箱が潰れる」; it also means a company going bankrupt or under.
- Synonym破れるやぶれるNeutralAlso used for opinions or votes splitting, as in 「意見が割れる」「票が割れる」; 「壊れる」 has no such sense.
- Synonym崩れるくずれるNeutralFor piled things crumbling apart or shapes getting deformed, as in 「天気が崩れる」.
- Related損壊そんかいWrittenWritten term for damage to buildings and other things, as in 「器物損壊罪」; it turns up often in legal contexts.
- Related崩壊ほうかいWrittenWritten word for buildings caving in or organizations falling apart, as in 「家庭崩壊」.
- Related破損はそんWrittenWritten term for objects being damaged or broken, as in 「破損した箇所」; common in reports.
- Related崩落ほうらくWrittenWritten word for cliffs or tunnels caving in, also for a steep plunge in stock prices.
- Related倒壊とうかいWrittenWritten term for houses and buildings collapsing, as in 「家屋が倒壊する」; seen often in disaster coverage.
- Related決壊けっかいWrittenWritten word for dams or embankments bursting open, as in 「堤防が決壊する」.
- Related崩れ落ちるくずれおちるNeutralFor piled-up things crumbling and tumbling down, as in 「壁が崩れ落ちる」.
- Related破けるやぶけるCasualColloquial, for thin things like paper or cloth tearing apart, as in 「袋が破ける」.
- RelatedいかれるCasualColloquial, for machines breaking down, as in 「エンジンがいかれる」; it also describes a mind going off or someone acting crazy.
- Antonym直るなおるNeutralThe opposite of 「壊れる」: something broken gets mended and works again, as in 「機械が直る」.
- Antonym修復されるWrittenThe written, passive counterpart of 「壊れる」: something damaged is restored, as in 「文化財が修復される」.
For something broken or not working, 「壊れる」 is the default. Use 「割れる」 when it splits, 「砕ける」 when it shatters, 「潰れる」 when it is crushed, 「破ける」 when it tears, and 「崩れる」 or 「倒壊」 for collapses; when it is fixed, say 「直る」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
