時計が壊れる
この時計が壊れました。
This clock broke.
For a clock or watch to stop working due to damage or malfunction.
時計が壊れてしまった。
The clock broke down.
この腕時計は壊れやすい。
This wristwatch breaks easily.
Commonly used for mechanical or electronic timepieces. Does not imply intentional damage unless context specifies.
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 壊れる and 故障する
While both mean 'to break/malfunction', 壊れる often implies irreversible damage (e.g., a broken gear), whereas 故障する may imply a repairable issue (e.g., a software glitch). For clocks, 壊れる is more commonly used for physical damage.
Gold Rule
Subject-Object Relationship
時計が壊れる (the clock breaks) uses the intransitive verb form (壊れる). To say 'I broke the clock', use 時計を壊した (tokei o kowashita). The particle changes from が to を to indicate the object.
Word Origin
時計 (tokei) = clock/watch + が (ga, subject marker) + 壊れる (kowareru, to break/damage). 壊れる derives from Old Japanese 'kowa-reru' (to be ruined), related to 'kowa-i' (ruin).
Usage Notes
Used for both sudden breakage and gradual malfunction. In technical contexts, 壊れる may imply irreversible damage, while 故障する (koshō suru) can sometimes suggest repairable issues.