砕く・摧く|くだくkudaku[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
砕く砕く（くだく） is the most common form and the recommended choice for beginners when writing this word.
摧く摧く（くだく） is rarely used, so learners will seldom need to choose it and should generally use 砕く（くだく） instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto break (into pieces); to smash; to crush; to shatter; to grind (into powder); to pound
- godan verb, transitive verbto shatter (someone's hopes, confidence, etc.); to crush; to frustrate
- godan verb, transitive verbto simplify; to make easy to understand
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 砕く（くだく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 砕きます（くだきます） |
| Negative (nai) | 砕かない（くだかない） |
| polite (masen) | 砕きません（くだきません） |
| classical zu / nu | 砕かず・砕かぬ（くだかず・くだかぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 砕いた（くだいた） |
| polite (mashita) | 砕きました（くだきました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 砕かなかった（くだかなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 砕きませんでした（くだきませんでした） |
| Te form | 砕いて（くだいて） |
| Potential | 砕ける（くだける） |
| Passive | 砕かれる（くだかれる） |
| Causative | 砕かせる（くだかせる） |
| Causative passive | 砕かせられる・砕かされる（くだかせられる・くだかされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 砕けば（くだけば） |
| tara | 砕いたら（くだいたら） |
| Volitional | 砕こう（くだこう） |
| polite (mashou) | 砕きましょう（くだきましょう） |
| Imperative | 砕け（くだけ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
氷が砕ける
氷を砕く
砕ける with が focuses on the ice undergoing the change of breaking, while 砕く with を focuses on an agent acting on the ice to break it.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym叩き割るたたきわるCasualColloquial. To crack or smash something by striking it hard, as in 「瓦を叩き割る」; one blow or several both work. 「砕く」 stresses reducing to small pieces.
- Synonym打ち砕くうちくだくNeutralTo smash something completely to pieces, or crush ambition; stronger in force than 「砕く」.
- Related破砕はさいWrittenA written noun for crushing into pieces, as in 「破砕機」; leans technical.
- Related破壊はかいNeutralA noun for destruction, as in 「環境破壊」; its objects are usually large or systematic things, while 「砕く」 is reducing to pieces.
- Related打ち割るうちわるNeutralTo split something open by striking; figuratively, to speak frankly, as in 「打ち割った話」.
- Related打ち壊すうちこわすNeutralTo destroy or smash up, and to overthrow systems and customs; the emphasis is on wrecking the whole.
- Relatedぶち壊すぶちこわすCasualColloquial, rough in tone: to smash things up or ruin plans and the atmosphere.
- Related撃砕げきさいWrittenA written noun for smashing something to bits with great force; mostly military.
- Related叩き壊すたたきこわすNeutralTo destroy something by hitting it, as in 「ドアを叩き壊す」; the emphasis is on breaking by blows.
- Relatedぶっ壊すぶっこわすCasualColloquial and rough: to break or ruin something, as in 「機械をぶっ壊す」.
- Antonym組み立てるくみたてるNeutralTo assemble or build up from parts — the opposite of breaking something apart.
Use 「砕く」 for breaking a hard thing into pieces or for taking pains, as in 「氷を砕く」「心を砕く」. For cracking by blows pick 「叩き割る」, for smashing to bits 「打ち砕く」, for destruction 「破壊」, and for assembling 「組み立てる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
