押しつぶす・押し潰す・圧し潰す|おしつぶすoshitsubusu[4]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
押しつぶす押しつぶす is the most common of these written forms. It uses kanji and kana, but beginners are advised to default to 押し潰す.
押し潰す押し潰す is the recommended default for beginners. It is a common kanji-and-kana spelling and a dependable choice for writing this word.
圧し潰す圧し潰す is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant. You may encounter it, but beginners should choose 押し潰す instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto crush; to squash; to flatten
- godan verb, transitive verbto quash (a plan, opposition, etc.); to crush; to suppress
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 押しつぶす（おしつぶす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 押しつぶします（おしつぶします） |
| Negative (nai) | 押しつぶさない（おしつぶさない） |
| polite (masen) | 押しつぶしません（おしつぶしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 押しつぶさず・押しつぶさぬ（おしつぶさず・おしつぶさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 押しつぶした（おしつぶした） |
| polite (mashita) | 押しつぶしました（おしつぶしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 押しつぶさなかった（おしつぶさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 押しつぶしませんでした（おしつぶしませんでした） |
| Te form | 押しつぶして（おしつぶして） |
| Potential | 押しつぶせる（おしつぶせる） |
| Passive | 押しつぶされる（おしつぶされる） |
| Causative | 押しつぶさせる（おしつぶさせる） |
| Causative passive | 押しつぶさせられる（おしつぶさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 押しつぶせば（おしつぶせば） |
| tara | 押しつぶしたら（おしつぶしたら） |
| Volitional | 押しつぶそう（おしつぶそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 押しつぶしましょう（おしつぶしましょう） |
| Imperative | 押しつぶせ（おしつぶせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym潰すつぶすNeutralThe most versatile of the group: crush, flatten or break. Unlike 「押しつぶす」, it does not stress pressing down from above.
- Synonymぶっ潰すぶっつぶすCasualColloquial and rougher than 「押しつぶす」: smashing something to bits or wrecking a company or plan, with extra force in the tone.
- Related握りつぶすにぎりつぶすNeutralCrushing with the hands, or figuratively shelving a proposal without acting on it; the shelving sense is the common one.
- RelatedひしぐWrittenA written-style word used less often: to crush or squash something, or to break an opponent's momentum.
- Antonym膨らますふくらますNeutralThe antonym: to make something swell or puff up, the opposite of flattening something with 「押しつぶす」.
Use 「押しつぶす」 for pressing something flat or for crushing feelings and opposition, as in 「プレッシャーに押しつぶされる」. For general flattening pick 「潰す」; for shelving a proposal, 「握りつぶす」; the opposite is 「膨らます」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
