break down

故障する

機械が不具合のために動かなくなる。

やさしい英語で： If a machine does this, it stops working because something is wrong with it.

• My car broke down yesterday.
• The washing machine keeps breaking down.
• What will we do if the bus breaks down?

類義語： fail, stop working

よく使う表現： cars break down, machines break down, break down suddenly

取り乱す、泣き崩れる

強い感情やストレスで自分を抑えられず、泣き崩れるなどすること。

やさしい英語で： If someone does this, strong feelings or stress make them lose control or become unable to cope.

• She broke down and cried.
• He nearly broke down under the pressure.
• I broke down when I heard about the accident.

使い方： break down in tears (She broke down in tears when she heard the news.); break down and do something (He broke down and began to sob.)

類義語： fall apart, collapse

よく使う表現： break down crying, break down in tears, break down under pressure

細かく分ける、内訳を示す

情報を細かく分け、それぞれをわかりやすく詳しく説明すること。

やさしい英語で： If you do this, you divide information into smaller parts to explain it clearly and in detail.

• Please break down the costs for me.
• She broke the process down into five steps.
• Can you break these figures down by month?

使い方： break something down into something (She broke the task down into small steps.); break something down by something (The report breaks spending down by department.)

類義語： analyze, itemize

よく使う表現： break down costs, break down the figures, break down something

分解する、腐る

腐敗や処理によって、より単純な物質に変わること。

やさしい英語で： If something does this, it slowly changes into simpler substances as it rots or is processed.

• Old leaves break down slowly.
• These bacteria break down dead plants.
• How long does food waste take to break down?

使い方： break down into something (The leaves break down into rich compost.); break something down (Bacteria break the waste down.)

類義語： decompose, decay, rot

よく使う表現： leaves break down, break down food, break down into nutrients

崩れる、弱める、取り払う

仕組みや関係がうまく働かなくなること。また、障壁や抵抗を弱めること。

やさしい英語で： If something does this, it becomes too weak to work properly; you can also cause this change.

• Their trust slowly broke down.
• The talks broke down after another disagreement.
• Shared activities can break down barriers between neighbours.

使い方： break something down (Regular contact helped break their resistance down.)

類義語： collapse, weaken

よく使う表現： talks break down, break down barriers, break down resistance

折れる、根負けする

拒んだり避けたりしていたことを、ついに受け入れること。

やさしい英語で： If you do this, you finally agree to do something you had been refusing or avoiding.

• I broke down and said yes.
• She finally broke down and ordered dessert.
• Will he break down and pay for a taxi?

使い方： break down and do something (I broke down and bought a new phone.)

類義語： give in, relent

反対語： resist

よく使う表現： finally break down, break down and agree