すり潰つぶす

す

り

つ

ぶ

す

Meanings

1

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

mash; grind; pulverize

Physical action of crushing something into a paste or powder, often with a mortar or by rubbing.

にんにくをすり潰つぶしてペーストにする。
Mash the garlic into a paste.
ゴマをすり鉢ばちですり潰つぶす。
Grind sesame seeds in a mortar.

2

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

squander; run through; lose (a fortune)

Figurative use: to waste or use up money or assets completely, as if grinding them away.

彼かれは親おやの遺い産さんをすり潰つぶしてしまった。
He squandered his parents' inheritance.

Written forms

すり潰つぶすUsage15%
Standard kanji spelling using 潰す.
すりつぶすUsage77%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not needed.
擂すり潰つぶすUsage4%
Uses the uncommon kanji 擂る; rarely seen in modern writing.
磨すりつぶすUsage2%
磨すり潰つぶすUsage1%
Alternate kanji spelling using 磨る, which can also mean 'to polish'.
擂すりつぶすUsage1%
擂すり潰つぶす
irregular okurigana

Kanji

潰crush, smash, break
擂grind, mash, grate
磨grind, polish, scour

Similar words

潰つぶす
潰す is a general verb for crushing, destroying, or ruining something. すり潰す specifically means to grind or mash by rubbing, and also has the figurative sense of squandering money.

Etymology

Compound of する (to rub, grind) in its continuative form すり + つぶす (to crush). The figurative sense of squandering money likely comes from the image of grinding something down until nothing is left.