撕开 (sī kāi) — to tear open, to rip open

Definition

A separable verb meaning to tear/rip something open (a package, envelope, wrapping). The 把 construction is common when naming the object torn: 把包裹撕开.

verb
to tear opento rip open

Examples

  • 撕开。
    Tā bǎ bāo guǒ sī kāi le.
    He tore open the parcel.
  • 撕开。
    Tā xiǎo xīn dì sī kāi le xìn fēng.
    She carefully tore open the envelope.
  • 撕开。
    Hái zi yòng lì sī kāi le bāo zhuāng zhǐ.
    The child forcefully tore open the wrapping paper.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

撕sītear
开kāiopen

撕 means tear and 开 shows the result open, so the parts express tearing open.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 撕 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 開; 开 is its simplified writing.

  • 門門méndoor
  • 一一yīlatch and/or wooden pole that shuts a door
  • 廾廾gǒnga pair of hands

The traditional form 開 shows 廾, a pair of hands, and 一, a latch or pole, inside 門, a door: hands opening a latched door. The simplified 开 is a shorthand form, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 开 →

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