Translation guide
The English word 'breaking' can refer to physical destruction, interruption, violation of rules, or the start of something new. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression based on the intended meaning.
To break something into pieces, smash, or destroy physically.
General verb for breaking or destroying objects. Transitive.
彼は窓を壊した。
He broke the window.
To break something brittle like glass, eggs, or plates. Transitive.
卵を割ってください。
Please break the egg.
To break something long and thin, like a stick or bone. Transitive.
枝を折らないで。
Don't break the branch.
Formal or large-scale destruction, like demolishing a building.
古いビルを破壊した。
They demolished the old building.
To break a continuous action, record, or state.
To break a promise, record, or rule. Also used for tearing paper.
彼は世界記録を破った。
He broke the world record.
To interrupt or suspend an activity temporarily.
会議を中断しましょう。
Let's break the meeting.
To take a break from work or activity.
ちょっと休憩を取りましょう。
Let's take a short break.
To break a law, rule, or agreement.
Used for breaking promises, rules, contracts, etc.
約束を破ってはいけない。
You must not break a promise.
To violate a law or regulation. More formal than 破る.
彼は交通規則に違反した。
He broke the traffic rules.
To commit a crime or sin. Used in set phrases like 罪を犯す.
The beginning or emergence of something, like news or dawn.
Breaking news; used as a noun. Often seen in news headlines.
地震の速報が入った。
Breaking news of an earthquake came in.
Daybreak, dawn. Used for the breaking of day.
To break out (war, epidemic). Formal and dramatic.
戦争が勃発した。
War broke out.
To stop a habit or pattern.
To break a habit. Literally 'cut off a habit'.
悪い習慣を断ちたい。
I want to break my bad habit.
To quit or stop doing something. Simple and common.
タバコをやめた。
I broke the habit of smoking.
壊す is general breaking/destroying. 割る is for brittle objects like glass or eggs. 折る is for long, thin objects like sticks or bones. Choose based on the object's material and shape.
For breaking rules, promises, or records, use 破る (やぶる), not 壊す. 壊す implies physical destruction.
記録を破る
break a record
He committed a crime.
夜明け前に出発した。
We left before daybreak.