打ちのめす

• Reading: うちのめす
• Romaji: uchinomesu
• Kanji breakdown: 打 (da/u) — strike, blow
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.tɕi.no.me.sɯ/

Meaning

To knock down; to defeat thoroughly; to crush utterly. Implies overwhelming someone physically or emotionally, leaving no room for recovery.

A Group 1 (godan) compound verb where 打ち (uchi, striking) intensifies のめす, a verb meaning to fell or lay flat. Together they convey total defeat — not just winning but leaving the opponent incapacitated. Figuratively it is used for devastating emotional blows, crushing losses of confidence, or overwhelming setbacks. The subject can be a person, circumstance, or abstract force.

Examples

1. チャンピオンは挑戦者を完全に打ちのめし、試合を終わらせた。 The champion thoroughly crushed the challenger and ended the match.
2. 度重なる失敗が彼の自信を打ちのめしてしまった。 Repeated failures completely devastated his confidence.
3. 現実の厳しさに打ちのめされながらも、彼は立ち上がった。 Though battered by the harshness of reality, he picked himself back up.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, conflict, psychology, literature

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 打つ (utsu, to strike) and のめす (nomesu, to fell, knock flat). のめす derives from のめる (to pitch forward, to fall prostrate). The 打ち prefix makes the action sudden and decisive.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal