1To be disheartened or lose heart; to become discouraged or dispirited.
試験に落ちて、彼はしばらくくじけていた。
He was downhearted for a while after failing the exam.
失敗してもすぐにくじけないで、次に生かそう。
Don't be discouraged by failure; use it for the next attempt.
何度も断られて、さすがに彼もくじけそうになった。
After being rejected multiple times, even he almost lost heart.
2To become sprained (to twist or wrench a joint); commonly used in expressions like 'to twist one's ankle'.
階段を踏み外して足首をくじけてしまった。
I missed a step on the stairs and twisted my ankle.
運動中に足をくじけないように気をつけてください。
Be careful not to sprain your ankle during exercise.
3To be snapped or broken (something gives way under force); to break or crack.
強風で古い木の枝がくじけて落ちた。
An old tree branch snapped and fell in the strong wind.
荷物の重さで棚がくじけてしまった。
The shelf gave way under the weight of the luggage.