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On'yomi
カイ・エ
KAI / E
Kun'yomi
こわ.す・こわ.れる・やぶ.る
kowasu / kowareru / yaburu

demolition · break · destroy

dark

Details

Strokes16
Frequency#727
Radicalearth(3)
Old Form

Stroke Order

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Strokes16

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of earth and phonetic. Earth crumbling.

Symbolism

Destruction, collapse, breakdown. Represents breaking.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Destruction and rebirth

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

自壊作用

じかいさよう

(the act of) disintegration; (the act of) disintegration

風俗壊乱

ふうぞくかいらん

corruption of public morals; an offense against public morality; corruption of public morals

金剛不壊

こんごうふえ

firm and solid; sturdy and indestructible; unshakable; firm and solid

Proverbs & Idioms

壊れた器は元に戻らぬ

こわれたうつわはもとにもどらぬ

A broken vessel cannot be restored

What's done cannot be undone