壊す

• Reading: こわす
• Romaji: kowasu
• Kanji breakdown: 壊 (kai/kowa) — break, destroy; earth radical (土) + phonetic element
• Pronunciation: /ko.wa.sɯ/

Meaning

To break; to destroy; to demolish; to damage something intentionally or accidentally.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb. The agent actively breaks or destroys something. Forms a pair with the intransitive 壊れる (kowareru). Also used figuratively: 体を壊す (to ruin one's health), 雰囲気を壊す (to ruin the atmosphere). The てしまう form expresses accidental breaking.

Examples

1. 弟がお皿を壊してしまった。 My little brother ended up breaking the plate.
2. 大切なものを壊さないでください。 Please don't break anything important.
3. この壁を壊す予定です。 We're planning to tear down this wall.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, construction, accidents

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Shares the kanji 壊 with 壊れる. The す ending marks it as the transitive form, giving the subject responsibility for the act of destruction.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal