1.
to be crushed; to be squashed
For something to be flattened or deformed by pressure.
空き缶が潰れた。
The empty can got crushed.
トマトが潰れてしまった。
The tomato got squashed.
箱が潰れていた。
The box was crushed.
ボールが潰れた。
The ball got flattened.
目が潰れるほど眩しい。
It's so bright it could blind you.
2.
to collapse; to fail
For a business, plan, or organization to fail or go bankrupt.
あの店は去年潰れた。
That store went out of business last year.
不況で会社が潰れた。
The company went bankrupt due to the recession.
計画が潰れてしまった。
The plan fell through.
銀行が潰れる心配がある。
There's concern the bank might collapse.
商談が潰れた。
The business deal fell through.
3.
to be wasted; to be ruined
For time, a day, or opportunity to be lost or wasted.
雨で休日が潰れてしまった。
The rain ruined my day off.
午後が潰れた。
My afternoon was wasted.
予定が潰れた。
My plans were ruined.
週末が仕事で潰れた。
My weekend was consumed by work.
声が潰れている。
My voice is hoarse.
潰れる is an intransitive verb (自動詞) meaning to be crushed or to fail.
TRANSITIVE PAIR: 潰す (to crush, to destroy)
- 潰れる: The can gets crushed.
- 潰す: I crush the can.
ASPECT (ている):
潰れている indicates something has been crushed/has failed and remains so.
PARTICLE PATTERNS:
- [thing]が潰れる — [thing] gets crushed/fails
- [business]が潰れる — [business] goes bankrupt
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 会社が潰れる (company goes bankrupt)
- 予定が潰れる (plans fall through)
- 声が潰れる (voice becomes hoarse)
- お酒で潰れる (to pass out drunk)
COLLOQUIAL USE:
潰れる is commonly used for businesses closing, but also casually for getting too drunk (お酒で潰れる).