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B1 verb 6 Min. Lesezeit

砕く

kudaku

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Erklärung 砕く in your Level:

At the A1 level, you might not use the word '砕く' (kudaku) very often, as it is a bit more specific than 'break' (kowasu). However, you can think of it in simple physical terms. Imagine you have a big piece of ice for your juice. If the ice is too big, you need to 'break' it into small pieces. That action is '砕く'. In simple Japanese, you would say '氷を砕く' (koori wo kudaku). It is a verb that describes making one big thing into many tiny pieces. It is different from 'kowasu', which usually means something is broken and doesn't work anymore, like a toy. 'Kudaku' is more about the shape changing into many small parts. You might see this word in basic cooking instructions or when talking about nature, like rocks.

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At the A2 level, you can start using '砕く' (kudaku) in more practical situations, especially in the kitchen or for simple descriptions. You might use it when talking about cooking: 'ナッツを砕きます' (I will crush the nuts). You should also notice the difference between '砕く' (kudaku) and '割る' (waru). 'Waru' is for cracking an egg or breaking a window into a few pieces. 'Kudaku' is for crushing something into many small fragments. You might also hear the polite form '砕きます' (kudakimasu) or the past tense '砕きました' (kudakimashita). It's a useful word for describing how you prepare food or how you might handle materials in a hobby, like breaking stones for a garden.

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At the B1 level, you should be comfortable with both the physical and the figurative meanings of '砕く' (kudaku). Physically, it's used for crushing ice, stones, or hard materials. Figuratively, it is very common in the context of language and understanding. The phrase '砕いて説明する' (kudaite setsumei suru) means to break down a difficult topic so it's easy to understand. This is a very useful phrase for students. You should also be aware of the intransitive version, '砕ける' (kudakeru), which means 'to be crushed' or 'to break into pieces' (e.g., '波が砕ける' - waves break). At this level, you should start recognizing '砕けた' (kudaketa) as an adjective meaning 'informal' or 'relaxed' when referring to language or atmosphere.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use '砕く' (kudaku) in idiomatic expressions and more complex sentence structures. One important idiom is '心を砕く' (kokoro wo kudaku), which means to put a lot of effort into something or to worry/care deeply about someone. It doesn't mean breaking your heart in a sad way, but rather 'using up' your mental energy for a purpose. You will also encounter '砕く' in news reports and literature, describing things like 'shattering an opponent's defense' or 'crushing someone's ambitions.' You should be able to use the causative and passive forms, such as '砕かれる' (kudakareru - to be crushed by someone/something) in more formal writing or storytelling.

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At the C1 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of '砕く' (kudaku) and its related kanji compounds. You will encounter words like '粉砕' (funsai - pulverization), '砕氷船' (saihyousen - icebreaker ship), and '煩雑な作業に身を砕く' (devoting oneself to tedious work). You should understand the subtle differences between 'kudaku' and its synonyms like 'tsubusu' (to squash) or 'funsa-suru' (to pulverize). In high-level literature, 'kudaku' can describe the atmosphere or the breakdown of social structures. You should also be able to use '砕けた' (kudaketa) to describe social situations where formalities are dropped, showing a deep understanding of Japanese social registers.

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At the C2 level, you should be able to use '砕く' (kudaku) with complete native-like precision, including its use in classical-style expressions or very specific technical contexts. You might use it in philosophical discussions about 'breaking down' concepts to their fundamental truths. You would be familiar with obscure idioms or historical usages where 'kudaku' appears. Your ability to switch between the literal 'crushing' of materials and the highly abstract 'crushing' of metaphysical ideas should be seamless. You understand how the choice of 'kudaku' over 'waru' or 'kowasu' affects the poetic imagery of a sentence, particularly in haiku or contemporary literature where word choice is paramount.

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砕く in 30 Sekunden

砕く (kudaku) is a transitive verb primarily meaning to crush, smash, or break something solid into small pieces or fragments.
Beyond physical crushing, it is widely used to mean 'simplifying' difficult concepts or language to make them more accessible.
Commonly found in idioms like 'kokoro wo kudaku,' which describes putting intense effort or care into a specific task or person.
It is a Godan verb, often confused with 'kowasu' (to break/damage) or 'waru' (to crack/split), but emphasizes fragmentation.

The Japanese verb 砕く (kudaku) is a versatile and powerful action word that primarily translates to 'to break,' 'to crush,' or 'to smash.' While it describes the physical act of reducing a solid object into smaller pieces, its usage extends far beyond the kitchen or the construction site. In the Japanese language, the nuance of kudaku often implies a force that shatters the integrity of something, whether that thing is a block of ice, a difficult concept, or even a person's resolve. Understanding this word requires looking at both its literal applications and its rich figurative meanings. It is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object—you crush something.

Physical Destruction: The most common use is for physical objects. If you take a hammer to a rock or a mortar and pestle to spices, you are performing the action of kudaku. It suggests the creation of many small fragments or powder.

カクテルを作るために、大きな氷を砕く必要があります。(To make a cocktail, you need to crush large pieces of ice.)

Intellectual Simplification: Interestingly, kudaku is used when taking a complex idea and breaking it down into simpler, more digestible parts. This is often seen in the phrase '砕けた表現' (kudaketa hyōgen), meaning informal or broken-down language that is easy to understand.

Psychological Impact: In literature and emotional contexts, kudaku describes the shattering of hopes, dreams, or even one's heart. It carries a heavy emotional weight, suggesting that the damage is extensive and difficult to repair.

不景気が彼のビジネスの夢を砕いた。(The recession crushed his business dreams.)

Whether you are in a kitchen crushing garlic or in a meeting trying to explain a difficult software architecture to a non-technical client, kudaku provides the perfect linguistic tool to describe the act of breaking something down into its constituent elements. It is a word that bridges the gap between the material world and the world of thought and emotion.

Using 砕く (kudaku) correctly involves understanding its transitive nature. In Japanese grammar, this means you will almost always see the particle wo (を) preceding it, indicating the object being crushed. Because it is a Godan verb (Type 1), its conjugation follows standard patterns: kudaku (dictionary), kudakimasu (polite), kudaita (past), and kudakanai (negative). Let's explore the various syntactic environments where this verb thrives.

Direct Physical Action: When describing labor or domestic tasks, kudaku is straightforward. It is often paired with tools like a hammer (tsuchi) or a stone (ishi).

ハンマーで大きな岩を細かく砕いた。(I crushed the large rock into small pieces with a hammer.)

Simplifying Language: One of the most useful applications for learners is using kudaku to describe the simplification of language. This is often used with the adverbial form kudaite.

難しい法律の文章を砕いて説明してください。(Please explain the difficult legal text in simpler terms.)

Abstract and Idiomatic Usage: In idioms, kudaku often appears in phrases like 'kokoro wo kudaku' (to take great pains/to worry). Here, the 'breaking' is the mental effort or the emotional toll taken to achieve a goal.

彼女は子供の教育に心を砕いている。(She is putting her heart and soul [taking great pains] into her child's education.)

In summary, whether the object is a physical stone or a metaphorical dream, kudaku emphasizes the result: the object is no longer in its original, whole state, but has been reduced to parts through intentional action or overwhelming force.

The word 砕く (kudaku) is remarkably common across various domains of Japanese life. From the mundane tasks of a chef to the dramatic climaxes of an anime, you will encounter this verb frequently. Its versatility makes it a staple in both spoken and written Japanese.

In the Kitchen: Chefs and home cooks use kudaku when preparing ingredients. You'll hear it in cooking shows when a host instructs the audience to crush nuts for a salad or break down a block of chocolate.

ナッツを粗く砕いてトッピングにします。(Roughly crush the nuts to use as a topping.)

In News and Journalism: Journalists often use kudaku in a figurative sense. It appears in headlines about political parties 'breaking' their opposition's plans or economic factors 'crushing' consumer confidence.

新法案が野党の反対を砕いた。(The new bill crushed the opposition's resistance.)

In Educational Settings: Teachers use the term when encouraging students to simplify their language. 'もっと砕けた言葉で' (In more broken-down/casual words) is a common instruction during speech practice.

専門用語を砕いて話すのは難しい。(It is difficult to speak by breaking down technical terms.)

By paying attention to these contexts, you'll see that kudaku is not just about physical force; it's about the transformation of something complex or solid into something manageable, simple, or destroyed.

While 砕く (kudaku) is a standard verb, its similarity to other 'breaking' verbs in Japanese often leads to confusion for learners. Choosing the wrong verb can change the meaning of your sentence or make it sound unnatural. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid.

Confusing Kudaku with Kowasu (壊す): Kowasu means to break something so it no longer works (like a TV or a machine). Kudaku means to break something into pieces. You wouldn't 'kudaku' a computer unless you were smashing it into bits with a sledgehammer.

❌ 時計を砕いた (I smashed the watch to pieces) vs. ✅ 時計を壊した (I broke the watch/it stopped working).

Confusing Kudaku with Waru (割る): Waru is used for splitting something in two or cracking something (like an egg or a window). Kudaku implies a more thorough destruction into many small pieces.

❌ 卵を砕く (to pulverize an egg) vs. ✅ 卵を割る (to crack an egg open).

Misusing 'Kudaketa': While 'kudaketa' (砕けた) can mean 'informal' when describing speech, it is not always interchangeable with 'casual' (tame-guchi). It specifically refers to the level of difficulty of the language being lowered.

Understanding these nuances will help you sound more like a native speaker and ensure your descriptions of breaking things are accurate and contextually appropriate.

Japanese has a rich vocabulary for destruction. Depending on what you are breaking and how you are breaking it, 砕く (kudaku) might have several alternatives that offer more precision.

粉砕する (Funsai suru): This is a more formal, technical term meaning 'to pulverize' or 'to grind into powder.' You'll see this in industrial contexts or news reports.
潰す (Tsubusu): This means 'to crush' or 'to squash.' While kudaku focuses on breaking into pieces, tsubusu focuses on flattening or destroying the shape of something (like crushing a can or an insect).
噛み砕く (Kamikudaku): Literally 'to bite and crush.' This is used both for chewing food and, very commonly, for thoroughly understanding and digesting complex information.

彼はその理論を十分に噛み砕いてから説明した。(He explained the theory after fully digesting/understanding it.)

打ち砕く (Uchikudaku): This adds the prefix 'uchi' (to strike) and is often used for shattering dreams, illusions, or enemy defenses. It sounds more forceful and dramatic than the simple kudaku.

By mastering these alternatives, you can specify exactly how an object or idea is being broken down, adding nuance and sophistication to your Japanese communication.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The kanji 砕 is also used in the word for icebreaker ships (砕氷船 - saihyousen), which are essential for navigating the frozen Okhotsk Sea in northern Japan.

Aussprachehilfe

UK ku.da.ku

US ku.da.ku

The pitch accent is 'Heiban' (flat), meaning the pitch starts low and stays high throughout the word: ku-DA-KU.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

The kanji is common but has many strokes. It's usually taught in middle school.

Schreiben 4/5

Writing the '卒' part of the kanji can be tricky for beginners.

Sprechen 2/5

The pronunciation is simple and follows standard patterns.

Hören 3/5

Can be confused with 'kudakeru' or other similar sounding verbs if not paying attention to particles.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

壊す (kowasu) 石 (ishi) 氷 (koori) 説明 (setsumei) 心 (kokoro)

Als Nächstes lernen

砕ける (kudakeru) 粉砕 (funsai) 抽象的 (chuushouteki) 具体的 (guutaiteki) 丁寧語 (teineigo)

Fortgeschritten

玉砕 (gyokusai) 肝を砕く (kimo wo kudaku) 砕氷船 (saihyousen) 木端微塵 (koppa mijin)

Wichtige Grammatik

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

砕く (Transitive: I crush) vs. 砕ける (Intransitive: It breaks).

Te-form for Method/Means

砕いて説明する (Explain by breaking it down).

Passive Voice for Emotional Impact

夢を砕かれた (My dreams were crushed [by someone/something]).

Adverbial use of Adjectives

細かく砕く (Crush finely - 'i' becomes 'ku').

Potential Form

この石は手では砕けない (This stone cannot be crushed by hand).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

氷を砕きます。

I will crush the ice.

Direct object 'ice' (koori) + particle 'wo' + verb 'kudaku'.

石を砕いてください。

Please crush the stone.

Use of the -te form for a request.

彼はクッキーを砕いた。

He crushed the cookie.

Past tense 'kudaita'.

大きな岩を砕く。

To crush a large rock.

Dictionary form used as a simple statement.

くるみを砕きましょう。

Let's crush the walnuts.

Volitional form 'mashou'.

これを砕かないでください。

Please don't crush this.

Negative request 'nai de kudasai'.

砂糖を砕く。

Crush the sugar (cubes).

Simple transitive action.

手で砕くことができます。

You can crush it with your hands.

Potential structure 'koto ga dekimasu'.

料理のためにナッツを細かく砕く。

Crush the nuts finely for cooking.

Adverb 'komakaku' (finely) modifying the verb.

ハンマーで氷を砕きました。

I crushed the ice with a hammer.

Particle 'de' indicating the tool used.

この薬は砕いて飲んでもいいですか？

Is it okay to crush this medicine and take it?

-te form + 'mo ii desu ka' for permission.

彼は夢を砕かれた。

His dreams were crushed.

Passive voice 'kudakareta'.

もっと砕いた言葉で話してください。

Please speak in simpler (more broken-down) words.

'Kudaita' used as an adjective for 'words'.

固いパンを砕いてスープに入れる。

Crush hard bread and put it in the soup.

Sequential actions using the -te form.

彼は怒ってコップを砕いた。

He got angry and smashed the glass.

Adverbial 'okotte' showing the state/reason.

機械が岩を砕いている。

The machine is crushing rocks.

Present continuous '-te iru'.

専門用語を砕いて説明するのは難しい。

It's difficult to explain technical terms by breaking them down.

Nominalizer 'no wa' making the clause a subject.

彼女は子供の将来のために心を砕いている。

She is putting her heart and soul into her child's future.

Idiom 'kokoro wo kudaku' (to take great pains).

そのニュースは人々の希望を砕いた。

That news crushed the people's hopes.

Figurative use of physical destruction.

氷を砕く音がキッチンから聞こえる。

I can hear the sound of crushing ice from the kitchen.

Relative clause modifying 'oto' (sound).

彼は反対意見を木端微塵に砕いた。

He smashed the opposing opinion to smithereens.

Adverbial phrase 'koppa mijin ni' (to smithereens).

この計画を砕くわけにはいかない。

We cannot afford to let this plan be crushed.

'Wake ni wa ikanai' expressing strong intention/necessity.

砕いた氷をグラスに入れてください。

Please put the crushed ice into the glass.

Past participle usage of 'kudaita' as an adjective.

彼は自分のプライドを砕かれた。

His pride was crushed.

Passive construction for emotional impact.

その作家は、難しい哲学を砕いて小説にした。

The author broke down difficult philosophy and turned it into a novel.

Using -te to connect two verbs in a sequence.

敵の野望を打ち砕くために立ち上がった。

They stood up to shatter the enemy's ambitions.

Compound verb 'uchikudaku' for emphasis.

彼女は接客に非常に心を砕いている。

She takes great pains in her customer service.

Formal use of 'kokoro wo kudaku'.

不況が中小企業の夢を無残に砕いた。

The recession ruthlessly crushed the dreams of small businesses.

Adverb 'muzan ni' (ruthlessly/cruelly).

この文章をもっと砕けた表現に書き換えてください。

Please rewrite this text into a more informal expression.

'Kudaketa' used as an adjective for 'expression'.

波が岩に当たって砕けている。

The waves are hitting the rocks and breaking.

Intransitive 'kudakeru' in continuous form.

彼は肝を砕いてその難問を解決した。

He racked his brains (took great pains) to solve that difficult problem.

Idiom 'kimo wo kudaku' (similar to kokoro wo kudaku).

氷河が砕かれる音が響き渡った。

The sound of glaciers being crushed echoed throughout.

Passive 'kudakareru' used for natural phenomena.

彼は、学術的な内容を一般向けに噛み砕いて解説した。

He explained academic content by breaking it down for the general public.

Compound verb 'kamikudaku' (to digest/simplify).

国家の威信を砕くようなスキャンダルが発覚した。

A scandal came to light that threatened to shatter the nation's prestige.

Relative clause modifying 'scandal'.

彼女は、後進の育成に身を砕いている。

She is devoting herself (body and soul) to training her successors.

Idiom 'mi wo kudaku' (to devote oneself entirely).

その一言が、彼の張り詰めた緊張を砕いた。

That one word broke his taut tension.

Metaphorical use of 'kudaku' for abstract states.

砕氷船が厚い氷を砕きながら進んでいく。

The icebreaker proceeds while crushing thick ice.

Simultaneous action using the stem form 'kudaki'.

伝統的な価値観が近代化によって砕かれていった。

Traditional values were gradually shattered by modernization.

Passive voice + 'te iku' showing a progression over time.

彼は、論理の矛盾を鋭く砕いた。

He sharply crushed the contradictions in the logic.

Adverb 'sharaku' (sharply) + 'kudaku'.

その彫刻家は大理石を砕いて芸術作品を創り出す。

The sculptor creates works of art by breaking marble.

Describing a creative process through destruction.

万徳の源を砕くが如き、苛烈な批判が浴びせられた。

Harsh criticism was showered upon him, as if to shatter the very source of all virtue.

Literary/classical style usage with 'ga gotoki'.

彼は自らの骨を砕くような思いで、その決断を下した。

He made that decision with a feeling as if his own bones were being crushed.

Metaphorical 'hone wo kudaku' expressing extreme mental anguish.

既存の概念を砕き、新たなパラダイムを構築する。

Break down existing concepts and construct a new paradigm.

Stem form 'kudaki' used for formal literary conjunction.

その詩人は、静寂を砕く一滴の雨音を美しく描写した。

The poet beautifully described the sound of a single raindrop breaking the silence.

Poetic use of 'kudaku' for sensory disruption.

権力構造の末端を砕くことで、全体を崩壊させる。

By crushing the edges of the power structure, the whole is made to collapse.

Causal relationship 'koto de' (by doing...).

彼は、己の虚栄心を粉々に砕く必要があった。

He needed to crush his own vanity into pieces.

Adverb 'konagona ni' (into tiny pieces).

古の知恵を現代の文脈に砕いて落とし込む。

Break down ancient wisdom and incorporate it into a modern context.

Compound conceptual action.

その衝撃は、鉄壁の守りを一瞬にして砕き去った。

The impact crushed away the ironclad defense in an instant.

Auxiliary verb 'saru' (away/completely).

Häufige Kollokationen

氷を砕く

岩を砕く

夢を砕く

心を砕く

言葉を砕く

骨を砕く

敵を砕く

ナッツを砕く

希望を砕く

肝を砕く

Häufige Phrasen

砕けた表現

— An informal or simplified expression that is easy to understand.

もっと砕けた表現を使ってください。

砕けた雰囲気

— A relaxed or informal atmosphere where people feel at ease.

パーティーは砕けた雰囲気だった。

砕いて言うと

— To put it simply; in layman's terms.

砕いて言うと、この計画は中止です。

身を砕く

— To devote oneself entirely; to work oneself to the bone.

平和のために身を砕く。

粉々に砕く

— To smash something into tiny, irreparable pieces.

花瓶を粉々に砕いてしまった。

細かく砕く

— To crush something into fine particles.

薬を細かく砕いて混ぜる。

打ち砕かれる

— To be completely shattered or defeated (usually dreams or hopes).

彼の自信は打ち砕かれた。

砕き散らす

— To smash and scatter pieces everywhere.

波がしぶきを砕き散らす。

噛み砕いて説明する

— To explain something very clearly by breaking it down thoroughly.

先生は量子力学を噛み砕いて説明した。

氷を砕く音

— The specific sound of ice being crushed.

夜中に氷を砕く音が響いた。

Wird oft verwechselt mit

砕く vs 壊す (kowasu)

Kowasu is for breaking a machine or a relationship so it doesn't work. Kudaku is for shattering something into pieces.

砕く vs 割る (waru)

Waru is for splitting something (like an egg or a record). Kudaku is for pulverizing or smashing into many bits.

砕く vs 潰す (tsubusu)

Tsubusu is for squashing or flattening. Kudaku is for breaking hard things into fragments.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"心を砕く"

— To take great pains; to put all of one's heart and effort into something.

彼女は客の満足のために心を砕いている。

Polite/Formal

"肝を砕く"

— To rack one's brains; to worry deeply or work extremely hard on a difficult problem.

難問の解決に肝を砕く。

Literary/Formal

"身を砕く"

— To sacrifice oneself or work excessively hard for a cause.

社運をかけて身を砕く。

Formal/Dramatic

"玉砕する"

— Literally 'shattered jewel'; to die an honorable death without surrendering; to fail gloriously.

告白したが玉砕した。

Neutral/Historical

"木端微塵に砕く"

— To smash something into such small pieces that nothing recognizable remains.

プライドを木端微塵に砕かれた。

Emphatic

"砕け散る"

— To shatter and scatter (often used for waves or ephemeral things).

夢が儚く砕け散った。

Poetic

"噛み砕く"

— To fully digest and understand information.

本の内容を噛み砕く。

Neutral

"打ち砕く"

— To completely destroy or refute (an argument, a dream, a plan).

幻想を打ち砕く。

Neutral

"砕けた口調"

— A casual or relaxed way of speaking.

砕けた口調で冗談を言う。

Neutral

"骨身を砕く"

— To work with all one's might; to exert oneself to the utmost.

骨身を砕いて働き、家を建てた。

Formal

Leicht verwechselbar

砕く vs 砕ける (kudakeru)

It's the intransitive version of 'kudaku'.

Kudaku is 'I crush it'. Kudakeru is 'It breaks/shatters'.

私が氷を砕く (I crush ice) vs. 氷が砕ける (Ice breaks).

砕く vs 解く (解く - toku)

Both can mean to simplify/solve.

Toku is to solve a puzzle or untie a knot. Kudaku is to break down a difficult concept into smaller pieces.

問題を解く (Solve a problem) vs. 内容を砕く (Simplify the content).

Satzmuster

[Object] を砕く

氷を砕く。

[Tool] で [Object] を砕く

ハンマーで石を砕く。

[Abstract] を砕いて [Action]

話を砕いて説明する。

[Something] に心を砕く

教育に心を砕く。

[Object] を粉々に砕く

ガラスを粉々に砕く。

[Subject] に夢を砕かれる

彼に夢を砕かれた。

[Object] を噛み砕く

理論を噛み砕く。

身を砕いて [Goal] に邁進する

身を砕いて研究に邁進する。

Wortfamilie

Substantive

砕石 (saiseki) - crushed stone

砕氷 (saihyou) - ice-breaking

粉砕 (funsai) - pulverization

Verben

砕ける (kudakeru) - to be broken/crushed (intransitive)

噛み砕く (kamikudaku) - to chew/digest

打ち砕く (uchikudaku) - to smash/shatter

Adjektive

砕けた (kudaketa) - informal/relaxed

Verwandt

壊す (kowasu)

割る (waru)

潰す (tsubusu)

解体する (kaitai suru)

分解する (bunkai suru)

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Common in daily conversation (cooking/explaining) and media (metaphorical destruction).

Häufige Fehler

Using 'kudaku' for a broken phone. → スマホを壊した (sumaho wo kowashita).
Kudaku means the phone is literally in pieces. Kowasu means it doesn't work.
Using 'kudaku' for a romantic crush. → 彼に恋をしている (kare ni koi wo shite iru).
'Crush' in English is an idiom for love; 'kudaku' is literal crushing.
Saying 'Nami wo kudaku' when you mean the wave is breaking. → 波が砕ける (nami ga kudakeru).
The wave breaks itself; it doesn't crush something else usually.
Using 'kudaku' for cutting paper. → 紙を切る (kami wo kiru).
Paper doesn't shatter into fragments, so 'kudaku' is inappropriate.
Confusing 'kudaku' with 'waru' for eggs. → 卵を割る (tamago wo waru).
You want two clean halves, not a pulverized eggshell mess.

Tipps

Simplifying Content

When you don't understand a Japanese explanation, ask: 'Motto kudaite setsumei shite moraemasu ka?' (Could you explain it more simply?)

Transitive vs Intransitive

Always check the particle. 'Wo' = 砕く (active). 'Ga' = 砕ける (passive/state).

Compound Power

Learn 'kamikudaku' (bite and crush). It's a great way to say you've 'digested' a difficult book.

Social Register

Use 'kudaketa' language only with friends or when an elder/superior invites you to 'relax'.

Visual Memory

Imagine the 'stone' radical in the kanji being hit by the right side of the character.

Softening Requests

Using 'kudaite' makes your request for a simpler explanation sound humble and appreciative.

Kanji Practice

The right side '卒' is also in 'sotsugyou' (graduation). Think: 'Graduating from hard stones to small pieces'.

Sound Effects

Japanese often uses onomatopoeia with 'kudaku' like 'gari-gari' (crunching) or 'konagona' (into bits).

Heart and Effort

'Kokoro wo kudaku' is a high-level way to praise someone's dedication to service.

Material Matters

Only use 'kudaku' for things that can actually shatter or crumble.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of a 'COUP' (ku) 'DA' (da) 'KOO' (ku). Imagine a coup where a stone statue is smashed into pieces. Ku-da-ku!

Visuelle Assoziation

Visualize a huge block of ice being hit by a hammer and exploding into tiny, sparkling diamonds. That 'shattering' action is 'kudaku'.

Word Web

Ice Stone Dreams Simplification Effort Hammer Informal Shatter

Herausforderung

Try to use 'kudaku' in three different ways today: once for food, once for a difficult concept, and once to describe a relaxed atmosphere.

Wortherkunft

The word 'kudaku' has its roots in Old Japanese. The kanji '砕' consists of '石' (stone) and '卒' (which can mean finish or group, but here acts as a phonetic and semantic indicator of breaking into parts).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To break stones into small pieces.

Japonic

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using 'kudaku' regarding someone's dreams or efforts, as it sounds very final and destructive.

While English uses 'crush' for physical objects and 'crush' for infatuation, Japanese 'kudaku' is NOT used for romantic crushes. Use 'suki' or 'mucha-kucha ni suki' instead.

Katsushika Hokusai's 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa' captures the moment waves 'kudakeru'. The term 'Gyokusai' (shattered jewel) was a tragic cultural concept during WWII. Many Japanese self-help books use 'kudaite setsumei' in their titles to attract readers.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Cooking

ナッツを砕く
氷を砕く
ニンニクを砕く
細かく砕く

Education

難しい話を砕く
わかりやすく砕く
噛み砕いて説明する
砕けた表現

Business/Effort

心を砕く
身を砕く
計画を砕く
反対を打ち砕く

Emotions

夢を砕く
希望を砕く
心を砕かれる
プライドを砕く

Nature/Construction

岩を砕く
石を砕く
波が砕ける
コンクリートを砕く

Gesprächseinstiege

"「砕いた氷」と「普通の氷」、どっちが飲み物に向いてると思う？ (Which do you think is better for drinks, crushed ice or regular ice?)"

"難しいニュースを砕いて説明してくれるYouTubeチャンネル知ってる？ (Do you know any YouTube channels that explain difficult news in simple terms?)"

"最近、何かに「心を砕いて」取り組んでいることはある？ (Is there anything you've been putting your heart and soul into lately?)"

"「砕けた表現」って、どのくらい親しくなったら使ってもいいのかな？ (At what point of closeness is it okay to use 'informal expressions'?)"

"子供の頃、石を砕いて遊んだことある？ (Did you ever play by crushing stones when you were a kid?)"

Tagebuch-Impulse

今日、誰かに難しいことを「砕いて」説明した経験を書いてください。 (Write about an experience today where you explained something difficult simply.)

あなたの「夢を砕かれた」経験と、それをどう乗り越えたかについて。 (About an experience where your dreams were crushed and how you overcame it.)

今、一番「心を砕いている」目標は何ですか？ (What is the goal you are currently putting the most effort into?)

「砕けた雰囲気」の職場と「フォーマルな雰囲気」の職場、どちらが好きですか？ (Which do you prefer, a workplace with a relaxed atmosphere or a formal one?)

自分が「噛み砕いて」理解するのに時間がかかった本や映画について。 (About a book or movie that took you a long time to fully digest/understand.)

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

Technically yes, 'kokoro wo kudaku' can mean breaking someone's heart, but it is much more commonly used to mean 'taking great pains' or 'putting effort' into something. For a romantic break-up, 'shitsuren suru' or 'furu' (to dump) is more common.

In terms of language, yes, it usually means 'easy to understand' or 'friendly'. However, in a very formal setting, being too 'kudaketa' might be seen as disrespectful. Context is key.

'Kudaku' is a general verb used in daily life. 'Funsai' (粉砕) is a formal Sino-Japanese compound used in news, science, or to describe total annihilation of an opponent.

It starts with the 'stone' radical (石) on the left, and the 'soldier/finish' character (卒) on the right. Think of a soldier finishing a task by breaking a stone!

Yes, 'hone wo kudaku' is used, but usually in a very violent context or as a metaphor for extremely hard work. For a medical fracture, 'kossetsu' is the correct term.

They are similar. 'Kantan ni' means 'simply'. 'Kudaite' implies the process of taking something hard/complex and breaking it down so it *becomes* simple.

A ship that breaks ice is a 'saihyousen' (砕氷船). For the social activity, people often use the English loanword 'aisu bureiku' (アイスブレイク).

No. For breaking a promise, use 'yaburu' (破る).

Usually, it's used for hard, solid objects like ice, stone, or hard cookies. You wouldn't use it for paper or cloth.

The opposite would be 'katai hyougen' (硬い表現 - stiff/formal expression) or 'aratamatta hyougen'.

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