godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Physical sense: to press, strike, or damage something so that it loses its original shape or is flattened.
空き缶を足で潰した。
I crushed the empty can with my foot.
豆を潰してペーストにする
Mash the beans and make them into a paste.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
shut down; put out of business; drive to closure
Used of making a shop, company, or organization fail or close. It can imply mismanagement, pressure from outside, or being forced out of business.
大型店の進出で、小さな商店が次々と潰された。
With the arrival of big stores, small shops were driven out of business one after another.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Figurative use for ruining a plan, negotiation, chance, face, or other intangible thing so that it no longer works or goes forward.
彼の一言が交渉を潰した。
His one remark ruined the negotiations.
反対派はその計画を潰そうとした。
The opposition tried to block the plan.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
slaughter; butcher; kill livestock for food
Direct term for killing an animal, especially livestock or poultry, for food; it can sound blunt outside practical or rural contexts.
昔は家で鶏を潰して食べることもあった。
In the past, people sometimes slaughtered chickens at home and ate them.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
kill time; while away time; use up time
Common in the set pattern 時間を潰す, meaning to spend time until something else happens.
映画まで時間があるので、喫茶店で時間を潰した。
Since there was time before the movie, I killed time at a café.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Used with things such as 才能, 個性, or 可能性, meaning to waste, suppress, or ruin someone's ability or potential.
子どもの才能を潰してはいけない。
You must not stifle a child's talent.