Translation guide
Describes something crushed, wrinkled, or folded untidily. Covers physical objects like paper, fabric, and metal, as well as collapsed postures.
Describing something that has been squeezed or pressed into irregular folds or creases, often accidentally.
Common onomatopoeic word for something wrinkled or crumpled, like paper or clothes. Often used as a な-adjective or adverb.
The paper I had in my pocket got crumpled.
Onomatopoeic word for something crumpled or rumpled. Can be used as a な-adjective, adverb, or する verb. Often implies a messy, crushed state.
I crumpled up the letter and threw it away.
Literally 'full of wrinkles', used for something very wrinkled or crumpled, like clothes or paper.
The suit is all crumpled.
Onomatopoeic word for something limp and wrinkled, often from wear or age. Used for clothes or paper.
He's wearing a crumpled shirt.
Describing something rigid that has been forcibly compressed or dented, like a car body or can.
Onomatopoeic word for something flattened or crushed flat. Often used for cans, boxes, or vehicles.
The car was crumpled in the accident.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be crushed' or 'to be squashed'. Can describe crumpled metal or other objects.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be dented' or 'to cave in'. Used for metal surfaces that are pushed in.
Describing a person who has fallen or sunk down in a limp, crumpled way.
Both describe crumpled paper or fabric. しわくちゃ focuses on the resulting wrinkles, while くしゃくしゃ emphasizes the messy, crushed action or state. くしゃくしゃ can also be used as a verb (くしゃくしゃにする) to mean 'crumple up'.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'crumpled'. Choose the expression based on the material and type of crumpling.
缶がつぶれてしまった。
The can got crumpled.
The car door got crumpled where the ball hit it.
ショックでその場にへたり込んだ。
She crumpled to the floor in shock.