1.
breaking off an engagement, deal, or negotiation; falling through
The collapse or cancellation of an agreed-upon arrangement, especially a marriage engagement or business deal. Composed of 破 (break) + 談 (talk/discussion). Implies that something that was being discussed or agreed upon has been called off.
婚約が破談になった。
The engagement was called off.
条件が合わず、商談は破談に終わった。
The terms didn't match, and the business negotiation fell through.
相手の家族の反対で縁談が破談になることもある。
A marriage proposal can fall through due to opposition from the other party's family.
USAGE:
Almost always appears in the pattern 破談になる (to fall through, to be called off). Most commonly associated with marriage arrangements (縁談, 婚約) but also used for business deals (商談).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 破談になる (to fall through)
- 破談に終わる (to end in failure)
- 破談にする (to call off — active)
SIMILAR WORDS:
破局 (breakup) refers to a romantic relationship ending, while 破談 specifically refers to a formal arrangement or negotiation collapsing before completion. 決裂 (rupture/breakdown) is used for negotiations breaking down acrimoniously.