Translation and Meaning of: 潰れる - tsubureru

The Japanese word 潰れる (つぶれる) is a verb that carries interesting and useful meanings in daily life. If you are learning Japanese, you may have encountered it in contexts such as "something broken" or "missed opportunity." In this article, we will explore its meaning, origin, and practical use, as well as cultural curiosities that help understand how the Japanese perceive this expression.

In addition to being common in everyday conversations, 潰れる appears in animes, dramas, and even in song lyrics. Its use ranges from literal situations, such as a crushed object, to metaphors about plans that went wrong. Let's unravel all of this clearly, with examples that make memorization and application easier.

Meaning and usage of 潰れる

The verb 潰れる has two main meanings. The first is the most concrete: it describes something that has been crushed, squashed, or physically destroyed. For example, a crushed can of soda or a cake that has fallen apart. The second meaning is more abstract, indicating that an opportunity or plan has been ruined. If someone says "予定が潰れた" (yotei ga tsubureta), it means that their plans have gone down the drain.

This duality between the physical and the metaphorical makes 潰れる a versatile word. At work, it can describe a canceled project; at home, an accidentally crushed tomato. It is worth noting that, in the abstract sense, it carries a nuance of frustration, as if something valuable had been lost irrevocably.

Origin and components of kanji

The kanji 潰 is composed of two significant elements. The radical 氷 (representing water) appears in its simplified form, while the right part contains the ideogram 貴 (which means valuable). This combination suggests the idea of something precious being dissolved or corrupted, which relates to the sense of destruction or loss that the word carries.

Interestingly, the verb 潰れる has its origin in the old term つぶす (tsubusu), which means "to crush". Over time, the passive form つぶれる gained prominence in the language to describe both the result of the action of crushing and situations where intangible things, such as hopes, fall apart. This semantic evolution is common in many languages, but in Japanese, it is especially visible in verbs that transit between the concrete and the abstract.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to memorize 潰れる is to associate it with vivid images. Think of a fruit being crushed or a glass breaking – this visual connection helps to remember both the meaning and pronunciation. Another tip is to observe its use in dramas or animes, where it often appears in scenes of mishaps or household accidents.

Avoid confusing 潰れる with similar verbs like 壊れる (kowareru), which means "to break" in a mechanical sense. While 壊れる refers to things that stop functioning, 潰れる implies deformation or physical collapse. This nuance is important for sounding natural in Japanese. A good practice is to create simple sentences like "卵が潰れた" (the egg was crushed) to internalize the appropriate context.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 潰れる

• 潰れそう potencial
• 潰れて te-forma
• 潰れません = not
• 潰れられる passiva
• 潰れます polite way

Synonyms and similar words

• つぶれる (tsubureru) - to be crushed; to collapse; to fail.
• 壊れる (kowareru) - break; be damaged.
• 崩れる (kuzureru) - dismantle; collapse; fall into collapse.
• 倒れる (taoreru) - fall; tumble; faint.
• 散る (chiru) - scatter; disperse; fall (flowers, etc.).
• 滅びる (horobiru) - lose; perish; extinguish.

潰れる

Romaji: tsubureru
Kana: つぶれる
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: be crushed; go bankrupt

Meaning in English: to be smashed;to go bankrupt

Definition: sink, be crushed, be crushed.