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打破 (dǎ pò) — to break (physically or figuratively)

Definition

打破 (dǎpò) means 'to break' in the sense of ending or surpassing a limit — usually abstract, like rules, silence, or records. For physically smashing something, prefer 砸 or 破碎; 破 alone is more general.

verb
to break (physically or figuratively)

Examples

  • 打破。
    Tā yí jù huà dǎ pò le chén mò.
    He broke the silence with one sentence.
  • 打破。
    Wǒ men yào dǎ pò jiù de guī zé.
    We need to break the old rules.
  • 打破。
    Tā bù xiǎo xīn dǎ pò le yí gè huā píng.
    He accidentally broke a vase.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

打dǎhit
破pòbroken

The first part means hit, and the second means broken; together they mean to break or smash.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng打dǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

打 uses 扌, a hand, to show an action done with the hand, and 丁 to give the sound.

Open 打 →

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
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