break · destroy

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 壊 expresses breaking or becoming damaged; its on-reading is かい.
• Basic usage: 壊す(こわす) means to break or damage something, while 壊れる(こわれる) means to break or stop working.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Breaking something and the resulting malfunction
  • 花瓶を壊した means that someone broke a vase. 壊す also applies when a child breaks it accidentally.
  • 時計が突然壊れた means that a clock suddenly stopped working. 壊れる applies to losing function as well as to physically coming apart.