Translation guide
How to express the action of crushing something by stepping on it, or the figurative sense of ruthlessly suppressing someone or something.
To crush or break something by stepping on it with your foot.
The most common and direct verb for crushing something underfoot. Transitive.
To ruthlessly suppress, defeat, or treat someone or something with contempt, as if trampling them.
踏み潰す is primarily for physically crushing something by stepping on it, while 踏みにじる is more common for figurative trampling (rights, feelings). However, both can be used in either sense depending on context.
彼の夢を踏みにじった。
I trampled on his dreams.
虫を踏み潰した。
I crushed the bug underfoot.
彼は空き缶を踏み潰した。
He crushed the empty can underfoot.
To crush or smash by stepping, often implying breaking into pieces. Transitive.
ガラスの破片を踏み砕いてしまった。
I accidentally crushed the glass fragments underfoot.
To trample or crush underfoot, often with a nuance of grinding or destroying. Can be literal or figurative.
花壇を踏みにじるのはやめてください。
Please don't trample the flower bed.
The most common figurative use, meaning to trample on someone's rights, feelings, or dignity.
彼は私の気持ちを踏みにじった。
He trampled on my feelings.
Can be used figuratively to mean crushing opposition or someone's spirit, though less common than 踏みにじる for emotional contexts.
敵を完全に踏み潰すつもりだ。
We intend to completely crush the enemy.
Literally 'to treat as a footstool', meaning to treat someone with contempt or trample on them. Strongly figurative.
彼は部下を足蹴にしている。
He treats his subordinates like dirt.