To Break Down
To Crumble, To Tear Down
transitive verb, godan verb
The kanji is crumble, and this verb is for when you actively make or let something crumble, so it means to break down, to tear down, or to crumble. It's transitive, so you're the one tearing stuff down. You can remember this because if you go around tearing down people's stuff, they'll probably sue (す).
崩す is for when you break down or loosen something that was solid or properly arranged. You can 崩す a sandcastle at the beach, your posture when you slouch, or even your health when you let yourself get worn down and sick. There are tons of ways to use this tricky word, so be sure check the context section for examples.
You are Zeus, and you have the ability to break down or to tear down everything in your path. The other gods watch you do this and are all like, "That's coo, Zeus (くず). That's so cool, Zeus, that you're able to crumble mountains."
バランスを崩す
to lose one's balance
山を崩す
to tear down a mountain, to level a hill
体調を崩す
to mess up one's health, to fall ill
字を崩す
to write characters more loosely, to write in cursive
お札を崩す
to break a bill into smaller change
姿勢を崩す
to relax one's posture
彼は体調を崩して、会社を休んだ。
He got sick and took a day off work.
階段でバランスを崩して転びそうになった。
I lost my balance on the stairs and almost fell.
ビーチとかで砂の山に木をさして、その木が倒れるまで少しずつ山を崩していく遊びって、名前あるのかな？
Is there a name for that game where you stick a stick into a mound of sand at the beach, then take turns removing sand until the stick falls over?
「1ドル札を崩してもらえませんか？」「ええっと…25セント硬貨が2枚と10セント硬貨が5枚あります。これでよろしいですか？」「はい。有難うございます。」
"Do you have change for a dollar?" "Let me see. I have two quarters and five dimes. Is this good?" "Yup, thanks."