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击破 (jī pò) — to break, to smash (by striking); to defeat, to destroy (an enemy, obstacle, etc.)

Definition

A strong verb meaning to smash through a defensive line or destroy an obstacle/enemy. Figuratively, it means to break down a barrier, argument, or stronghold. (Compound: 击 strike + 破 break.)

verb
to breakto smash (by striking)to defeatto destroy (an enemy, obstacle, etc.)

Examples

  • 击破。
    Shì bīng men yòng shí tou jī pò le dí rén de fáng xiàn.
    The soldiers broke through the enemy's defense line with stones.
  • ，击破。
    Zài zhè cì bǐ sài zhōng, tā chéng gōng jī pò le duì shǒu de zhàn shù.
    In this competition, he successfully defeated the opponent's tactics.
  • 击破。
    Jǐng fāng zài yí cì xíng dòng zhōng jī pò le yí gè fàn zuì tuán huǒ.
    The police smashed a criminal gang in one operation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

击jīstrike
破pòbreak

击 gives the idea of striking, and 破 gives the result of breaking, so something is smashed by a blow.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 擊; 击 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
毄
毄jī擊jī
Same sound today

The traditional form 擊 has 手 (hand) and 毄; 毄 gives the sound and also points to striking, while the simplified 击 is a later shorthand.

Open 击 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí破pò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

破 has 石 (stone) as its meaning part and 皮 as its sound part.

Open 破 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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