Translation guide
How to express the idea of something breaking down, failing, or decomposing in Japanese, depending on whether it's a machine, a system, a person, or a substance.
To say that a machine, vehicle, or device has broken down or stopped functioning.
The most common and general verb for mechanical breakdown. Used for cars, computers, appliances, etc.
車が故障した。
The car broke down.
エアコンが故障しています。
The air conditioner is broken.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to break' or 'to be broken'. More general than 故障する, can also be used for non-mechanical items.
テレビが壊れた。
The TV broke down.
Literally 'to become not moving'. A descriptive phrase for when something stops working.
プリンターが動かなくなった。
The printer stopped working.
To say that a system, plan, relationship, or negotiation has collapsed or broken down.
Strong word for collapse or breakdown of systems, organizations, or structures.
交渉が崩壊した。
The negotiations broke down.
システムが崩壊した。
The system broke down.
Often used for financial collapse, bankruptcy, or the failure of a plan/relationship.
計画が破綻した。
The plan broke down.
To reach a deadlock or impasse; negotiations or talks break down because no progress can be made.
To say that a person has had a mental or emotional breakdown.
A common way to say someone is mentally overwhelmed or having a breakdown. 参る is a humble verb for 'to be defeated/affected'.
彼は仕事のストレスで精神的に参っている。
He's breaking down mentally from work stress.
Literally 'to get neurosis'. Used for a nervous breakdown, though slightly dated/clinical.
彼女はノイローゼになった。
She had a nervous breakdown.
Idiomatic: 'one's heart breaks'. Means to lose spirit or give up mentally.
何度も失敗して心が折れた。
After failing many times, I broke down mentally.
To say that something is broken down into parts, or to analyze something by breaking it down.
To disassemble, break down into parts, or analyze (chemically or logically).
データを要素に分解する。
Break down the data into elements.
時計を分解して修理した。
I broke down the clock and repaired it.
To analyze. Often used when breaking down a problem or concept intellectually.
問題を細かく分析する。
Break down the problem in detail.
To say that organic material is breaking down or decomposing.
Same word as for mechanical disassembly, but used for organic decomposition by bacteria, etc.
落ち葉が土の中で分解する。
Fallen leaves break down in the soil.
To rot or go bad. More specific to putrefaction.
食べ物が腐っている。
The food is breaking down (rotting).
To physically break down a door, wall, or obstacle.
To break down or smash through a barrier, door, etc.
消防士がドアを打ち破った。
The firefighters broke down the door.
General transitive verb for breaking something. Can be used for breaking down a physical object.
故障する is specifically for mechanical or electronic failure. 壊れる is broader and can be used for any physical breakage, including non-mechanical items like toys or furniture. For machines, both are often interchangeable, but 故障する sounds more technical.
パソコンが故障した / 壊れた。
The computer broke down.
English 'mental breakdown' is not directly translated as 精神的な故障. Use phrases like 精神的に参る or ノイローゼになる. 心が折れる is more about losing motivation than a clinical breakdown.
彼は精神的に参っている。
He is having a breakdown.
話し合いが行き詰まった。
The discussions broke down.
They broke down the wall to make the room bigger.