Rozbít

Rozbít is a Czech verb meaning to break something into pieces, to smash, or to crack. It can also be used figuratively to mean ruin or spoil something, such as plans or a reputation (for example, rozbít plány, rozbít dojem). The verb is transitive and typically describes damage to a concrete object or, in idiomatic use, to a situation.

Aspect and conjugation notes: Rozbít is a perfective verb, indicating a completed action. Its imperfective counterpart is rozbíjet, which describes breaking as an ongoing or repeated action. In standard Czech, perfective verbs present tense forms express the future meaning, so you may hear sentences like Já rozbiju sklo meaning “I will break the glass.” Past tense forms exist as well, with rozbil (masculine singular), rozbila (feminine singular), rozbilo (neuter singular), rozbili (masculine plural) and rozbily (feminine plural). The imperative forms are rozbij (singular) and rozbijte (plural).

Usage and examples: Common collocations include rozbít sklo (to break the glass), rozbít auto (to crash or destroy a car), or figuratively rozbít plány (to ruin plans) and rozbít dojem (to spoil an impression). The verb also appears in expressions like rozbitý, meaning broken or shattered, and in the related noun rozbití, referring to the act or result of breaking.

Related forms and derivatives: Rozbitý is the past participle used as an adjective meaning broken. Rozbití is a noun meaning breakage or the act of breaking. The verb belongs to a common class of Czech prefixed verbs with roz- that signal a dispersion into pieces or a completion of the action.

See also: breakage, damage, or related Czech verbs describing destruction or harm.