崩壊する

• Reading: ほうかいする
• Romaji: houkai suru
• Kanji breakdown: 崩 (hou) — crumble, collapse; 壊 (kai) — break, destroy
• Pronunciation: /hoː.kai.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To collapse; to crumble and fall apart, either physically or figuratively.

A Group 3 (suru) compound verb combining 崩壊 (collapse/disintegration) with する. Used for physical structures (建物が崩壊する), systems (経済崩壊, economic collapse), and abstract concepts (家庭の崩壊, family breakdown). Also a physics term for nuclear decay (核崩壊). Dramatic and decisive in tone.

Examples

1. 地震で古いビルが崩壊した。 An old building collapsed in the earthquake.
2. バブル崩壊が日本経済に大きな影響を与えた。 The bursting of the economic bubble had a huge impact on the Japanese economy.
3. 信頼関係が崩壊すると修復は難しい。 Once trust collapses, it's hard to repair.

Usage Guide

Context: news, economics, science, disasters

Tone: dramatic

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 崩 (hou, to crumble/collapse) + 壊 (kai, to break/destroy). Literally 'to crumble and break,' doubly emphasising complete destruction.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated