砕くだく

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

break into pieces; smash; crush; shatter; grind; pound

Physical action of breaking something solid into smaller pieces or powder by force.

• 彼かれはハンマーで岩いわを砕くだいた。

  He smashed the rock with a hammer.

• スパイスをすり鉢ばちで砕くだいて粉こなにする。

  Grind the spices into powder using a mortar.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

shatter (hopes, confidence); crush (spirit); frustrate

Metaphorical use: destroying someone's emotional state, expectations, or morale.

• その知しらせは彼かれの希き望ぼうを完かん全ぜんに砕くだいた。

  The news completely shattered his hopes.

• 厳きびしい批ひ判はんが彼かれの自じ信しんを砕くだいた。

  The harsh criticism crushed his confidence.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

simplify; make easy to understand

Used for breaking down complex ideas or explanations into simpler terms; often appears as 噛み砕く.

• 難むずかしい概がい念ねんを噛かみ砕くだいて説せつ明めいした。

  I explained the difficult concept in simple terms.

• この本ほんは経けい済ざい学がくを砕くだいて教おしえてくれる。

  This book teaches economics in an easy-to-understand way.