Translation guide
How to express the action of crushing something by stepping on it, or the figurative sense of ruthlessly suppressing someone or something.
To crush or break something by stepping on it with your foot.
The most common and direct verb for crushing something underfoot. Transitive.
He crushed the empty can underfoot.
To crush or smash by stepping, often implying breaking into pieces. Transitive.
I accidentally crushed the glass fragments underfoot.
To trample or crush underfoot, often with a nuance of grinding or destroying. Can be literal or figurative.
Please don't trample the flower bed.
To ruthlessly suppress, defeat, or treat someone or something with contempt, as if trampling them.
The most common figurative use, meaning to trample on someone's rights, feelings, or dignity.
He trampled on my feelings.
Can be used figuratively to mean crushing opposition or someone's spirit, though less common than 踏みにじる for emotional contexts.
Literally 'to treat as a footstool', meaning to treat someone with contempt or trample on them. Strongly figurative.
踏み潰す is primarily for physically crushing something by stepping on it, while 踏みにじる is more common for figurative trampling (rights, feelings). However, both can be used in either sense depending on context.
I trampled on his dreams.
I crushed the bug underfoot.
We intend to completely crush the enemy.
He treats his subordinates like dirt.