1.
to beat up, to beat senseless
To physically strike someone repeatedly until they cannot resist. A violent, forceful action.
相手を打ちのめした。
He beat his opponent senseless.
チャンピオンは挑戦者を完全に打ちのめした。
The champion completely pummeled the challenger.
ケンカで打ちのめされて、立ち上がれなかった。
He was beaten so badly in the fight that he couldn't stand up.
2.
to devastate, to crush (emotionally or psychologically)
To deal a severe emotional or psychological blow that leaves someone unable to recover easily. Often used in passive form to describe being overwhelmed by bad news, failure, or grief.
失敗に打ちのめされた。
I was devastated by the failure.
現実に打ちのめされて、しばらく何もできなかった。
Crushed by reality, I couldn't do anything for a while.
あの知らせを聞いて、彼女はすっかり打ちのめされてしまった。
Upon hearing that news, she was completely devastated.
打ちのめす has both a physical and figurative meaning. The figurative sense (sense 2) is more common in everyday conversation.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
PATTERN:
- 〜を打ちのめす: to beat ~ senseless
- 〜に打ちのめされる (passive): to be devastated by ~
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 相手を打ちのめす: to beat one's opponent
- 現実に打ちのめされる: to be crushed by reality
- 失敗に打ちのめされる: to be devastated by failure
- すっかり打ちのめされる: to be completely devastated
NOTE: The passive form 打ちのめされる is especially common with the figurative meaning. The subject is marked with に.