Japanese

くだく
Meaning: to smash; to break; to explain simply
Part of Speech: Verb

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 砕く 砕かない
Polite 砕きます 砕きません
Past 砕いた 砕かなかった
Polite + Past 砕きました 砕きませんでした
Te-form 砕いて 砕かなくて
Potential 砕ける 砕けない
Passive 砕かれる 砕かれない
Causative 砕かせる 砕かせない
Causative + Passive 砕かされる 砕かされない
Imperative 砕け 砕くな

Handwriting

砕
く

Example sentences

I explained the difficult theory simply so that even regular people could understand it.
范増は悔しさのあまり、鴻門玉斗を剣で砕いた。
In his extreme frustration, Fan Zeng smashed the jade dipper of Hongmen with his sword.

Usage Notes

Originally means to break something hard into pieces. Figuratively, it means to simplify difficult information or to devote all one's efforts (as in '心を砕く').

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