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断开 (duàn kāi) — to sever (a connection, a link); to break apart (a physical object)

Definition

A physical or abstract 'to sever / disconnect' — used for tangible things (wires, ropes) and intangible links (relationships, connections). More concrete and action-oriented than abstract 断绝.

verb
to sever (a connection, a link)to break apart (a physical object)

Examples

  • 断开，。
    Qǐng bǎ diàn yuán duàn kāi, zài xiū lǐ jī qì.
    Please disconnect the power supply before repairing the machine.
  • ，断开。
    Nà gēn shéng zi chéng shòu bù liǎo zhòng liàng, tū rán duàn kāi le.
    That rope couldn't bear the weight and suddenly snapped.
  • 断开，。
    Tā men jué dìng duàn kāi hé zuò guān xì, gè zì fā zhǎn.
    They decided to sever the partnership and each go their own way.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

断duànbreak
开kāiapart

断 means break, and 开 adds the sense of apart, so something is severed or broken open.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 斷; 断 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 斷 uses 𢇍 (to cut) and 斤 (axe) together.

Open 断 →

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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