砕ける・摧ける|くだけるkudakeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
砕ける砕ける（くだける） is the more common written form and the recommended choice for beginners. Use it as your default when writing this word.
摧ける摧ける（くだける） is a less common written variant of 砕ける（くだける）. Beginners should use 砕ける（くだける） instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto break (into pieces); to be broken; to be smashed
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto collapse; to crumble; to decline; to cool (e.g. enthusiasm); to dampen (e.g. one's will to fight)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto become less formal; to throw off reserve; to become affable
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto become easy to understand (e.g. a story)
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto be worried
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 砕ける（くだける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 砕けます（くだけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 砕けない（くだけない） |
| polite (masen) | 砕けません（くだけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 砕けず・砕けぬ（くだけず・くだけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 砕けた（くだけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 砕けました（くだけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 砕けなかった（くだけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 砕けませんでした（くだけませんでした） |
| Te form | 砕けて（くだけて） |
| Potential | 砕けられる（くだけられる） |
| Passive | 砕けられる（くだけられる） |
| Causative | 砕けさせる（くだけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 砕けさせられる（くだけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 砕ければ（くだければ） |
| tara | 砕けたら（くだけたら） |
| Volitional | 砕けよう（くだけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 砕けましょう（くだけましょう） |
| Imperative | 砕けろ（くだけろ） |
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 emphasizes the event or resulting state, as in 氷が砕ける; 砕く foregrounds the agent acting on something, as in 氷を砕く.
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 glass or plates cracking or splitting into a few pieces, as in 「皿が割れる」; 「砕ける」 is shattering into fine fragments.
- Synonym壊れるこわれるNeutralThe most general word for something breaking down or malfunctioning; 「砕ける」 specifically stresses breaking into pieces.
- Synonym潰れるつぶれるNeutralFor being crushed or squashed flat, and for companies going under; 「砕ける」 means breaking into small pieces.
- Related崩れるくずれるNeutralFor piled-up things collapsing or losing their shape; 「砕ける」 is breaking into fragments.
- Related破れるやぶれるNeutralSame as 「割れる」 above: splitting or breaking into pieces; it does not cover the 'become less formal' sense of 「砕ける」.
- Related破損はそんWrittenA written/formal noun for damage to objects, as in 「破損箇所」; 「砕ける」 is a verb.
- Related損壊そんかいWrittenWritten/formal prose for damage to buildings, facilities or objects in general, as in 「器物損壊」; 「砕ける」 is breaking into small pieces.
- Related自壊じかいWrittenWritten/formal prose for collapsing on its own without external force — organizations, systems or buildings; 「砕ける」 is breaking under force.
- Related破けるやぶけるCasualColloquial, same meaning as 「破れる」: cloth or paper tearing or wearing through; 「砕ける」 is hard objects shattering.
- RelatedこぼれるNeutralSame as 「壊れる」 above: breaking down or malfunctioning; it does not cover the 'become less formal' sense of 「砕ける」.
Use 「砕ける」 for hard things shattering into fine pieces or for someone becoming less formal. For splitting into pieces use 「割れる」, for breaking down 「壊れる」, for being crushed 「潰れる」, for collapsing 「崩れる」.
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
