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顔を潰す (かおをつぶす, kaootsubusu) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word› Conjugation 顔を潰す · godan verb (-su)
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 顔かお を 潰つぶ す 顔かお を 潰つぶ さない Polite 顔かお を 潰つぶ します 顔かお を 潰つぶ しません Past polite 顔かお を 潰つぶ しました 顔かお を 潰つぶ しませんでした Past 顔かお を 潰つぶ した 顔かお を 潰つぶ さなかった Te-form 顔かお を 潰つぶ して 顔かお を 潰つぶ さないで Desire 顔かお を 潰つぶ したい 顔かお を 潰つぶ したくない Potential 顔かお を 潰つぶ せる 顔かお を 潰つぶ せない Passive 顔かお を 潰つぶ される 顔かお を 潰つぶ されない Causative 顔かお を 潰つぶ させる 顔かお を 潰つぶ させない Causative passive 顔かお を 潰つぶ させられる 顔かお を 潰つぶ させられない Volitional 顔かお を 潰つぶ そう Polite volitional 顔かお を 潰つぶ しましょう Imperative 顔かお を 潰つぶ せ 顔かお を 潰つぶ すな Conditional 顔かお を 潰つぶ せば 顔かお を 潰つぶ さなければ Tara conditional 顔かお を 潰つぶ したら 顔かお を 潰つぶ さなかったら
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He made his boss lose face at the meeting.
If you say something like that, you'll embarrass her.
Related words 面目を潰す is a more formal, literary way to say someone's honor is damaged, while 顔を潰す is the everyday colloquial version of the same idea.
顔をつぶす and 顔に泥を塗る both mean to make someone lose face, but 顔に泥を塗る paints a more vivid image of smearing mud on someone's reputation.
Opposites 顔が立つ means someone's reputation is preserved or enhanced, the opposite of 顔を潰す, which means someone's reputation is damaged.
顔を立てる means to help someone save face or look good, while 顔をつぶす means to cause someone to lose face or be embarrassed.
Written forms 顔かお を 潰つぶ す
Standard kanji spelling for this idiomatic expression.
顔かお をつぶす
Kana spelling of を; common in everyday writing.
Etymology Idiomatic phrase combining 顔 (face, reputation) and 潰す (to crush, destroy). The expression metaphorically extends the physical act of crushing a face to damaging someone's social standing or dignity.
