潰す

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 潰す(つぶす) is a transitive verb for pressing something so that its shape collapses.
• Basic usage: It describes physically crushing a can and also passing time while waiting.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Conjugation
  • Its forms include 潰して and 潰した: the ending す becomes して or した.
• Action and result
  • 缶を潰す describes acting on a can, while 缶が潰れる describes the can becoming crushed.
  • In 時間を潰す, the focus is on occupying spare time rather than changing a physical shape.