# 壊 — destroy; break

壊 means “destroy; break”. It is a JLPT N1 kanji written with 16 strokes. On'yomi: カイ (kai), エ (e). Kun'yomi: こわ(す) (kowasu). You'll see it in words such as 壊す (kowasu, “to break; to destroy”).

- Meaning: destroy; break
- On'yomi: カイ (kai), エ (e)
- Kun'yomi: こわ(す) (kowasu)
- Strokes: 16
- Level: JLPT N1 · set Conflict & rivalry 1

## How to remember 壊

Sounds like 衣: both read エ.

Parts: 土 earth · 十 ten; cross · 罒 net · 衣 garment

## Words with 壊

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 壊す | こわす (kowasu) | to break; to destroy |
| 壊れる | こわれる (kowareru) | to be broken; to break |

## Don't confuse it with

[懐](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/nostalgic/) · [壌](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/soil/)

## More in the “Conflict & rivalry 1” set

[護](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/safeguard/) · [衛](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/defence/) · [撃](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/strike-down/) · [討](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/examine-closely/) · [攻](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/attack/) · [隊](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/squad/) · [塁](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/fort/) · [抗](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/resist/) · [壊](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/destroy/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/destroy/. Last updated 2026-11-01.