損壊|そんかいsonkai[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbdamage; destruction

• Synonym毀損きそんFormalFormal word for damaging things, but most often used for damaging reputation, as in 「名誉毀損」.
• Synonym損傷そんしょうNeutralInjury or damage to part of a body or machine, as in 「脳の損傷」; focuses on localized harm rather than a whole thing being destroyed.
• Synonym破損はそんNeutralBreakage of objects, as in 「破損した窓」; focuses on things cracking or breaking apart.
• SynonymダメージCasualLoanword for damage or a blow, including emotional shock; colloquial and very widely used.
• Synonym損じるそんじるWrittenWritten word for damaging or hurting, as in 「機嫌を損じる」; rare.
• Synonym破壊はかいNeutralDestruction of buildings, systems, the environment; broad in scope, focuses on the act of destroying.
• Synonym害するがいするWrittenWritten: to harm health or feelings, or even kill; focuses on endangering.
• Synonym毀傷きしょうWrittenWritten word for injury or damage; rare.
• Related取り壊しとりこわしNeutralDemolition of buildings; planned tearing down, not accidental damage.
• Related壊すこわすNeutralThe most versatile verb for breaking things; everyday speech, while 「損壊」 leans toward legal and news writing.
• Related壊滅かいめつNeutralComplete destruction; far more severe than 「損壊」, often said of disasters.
• Related取り壊すとりこわすNeutralVerb: to demolish a building; deliberate, planned tearing down.
• Related傷つけるきずつけるNeutralTo injure or scratch something, or hurt someone's feelings; focuses on leaving marks or wounds.
• Related損害そんがいNeutralDamage or loss, including financial loss, as in 「損害賠償」; focuses on loss suffered, not specifically objects breaking.
• Related損なうそこなうNeutralTo impair health or mood; focuses on making something worse, not necessarily physical destruction.
• Related壊れるこわれるNeutralIntransitive: things break or stop working, by outside force or otherwise, as in 「地震で家が壊れる」.
• Related取り崩すとりくずすNeutralTo tear down, or to draw on savings bit by bit; the latter sense is more common.
• Related傷害しょうがいFormalFormal term for bodily injury, as in 「傷害罪」; it targets people, while 「損壊」 targets things.
• Related割るわるNeutralTo break, crack or split something, also to divide (as in math); focuses on splitting into pieces.
• Related打ち壊しうちこわしNeutralSmashing things up; also the Edo-period riots of that name. Emphasizes violent destruction by people.
• Relatedぶち壊しぶちこわしCasualColloquial for smashing things up or ruining something; the ruining sense is more common.
• Related打ち壊すうちこわすNeutralVerb: to smash up, or to overthrow an old system. Strong sense of physical action, where 「損壊」 is the objective, noun-like wording.
• Relatedぶち壊すぶちこわすCasualColloquial, rough verb: to smash up or botch something.
• Related毀つこぼつWrittenTo destroy or damage; archaic, hardly used in modern Japanese.
• Relatedぶっ壊すぶっこわすCasualTo smash to pieces or ruin something; vulgar colloquial.
• Antonym修復しゅうふくNeutralAntonym: restoring damaged parts to their original state.
• Antonym修理しゅうりNeutralAntonym: repairing broken things so they can be used again.
• Antonym保全ほぜんNeutralAntonym: keeping things intact and well maintained.

Use 「損壊」 for damage to buildings or objects, mostly in legal and news contexts like 「建造物損壊」 or 「家屋の損壊」. In everyday speech say 「壊れる」/「壊す」 instead. For damage to reputation use 「毀損」, for injuring people 「傷害」. 「破損」 covers breakage of objects, 「損傷」 localized injury to bodies or machines, 「ダメージ」 casual damage, 「破壊」 the broader act of destroying, and 「壊滅」 total devastation. The antonyms 修復, 修理 and 保全 are about fixing and maintaining.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 何なんらかの原因げんいんにより、あるものが損そこなわれ壊こわれること。