割断 (gē duàn) — to cut off, sever (by cutting with a blade)

Definition

A vivid verb meaning 'to cut off / sever', often used for physical things (ropes, wires) and figuratively for ties or contact (联系, 关系). It implies a decisive, complete cut, stronger than the general 切断.

verb
to cut offsever (by cutting with a blade)

Examples

  • 割断。
    Tā yòng dāo gē duàn le shéng zi.
    He cut the rope with a knife.
  • ，。
    Zhè zhǒng xiàn hěn cū, gēn běn gē bú duàn.
    This kind of thread is very thick; it simply can't be cut off.
  • 割断。
    Tā men chè dǐ gē duàn le lián xì.
    They completely severed contact.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

割gēcut
断duànsever

割 'cut' plus 断 'sever' gives the sense of cutting through.

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
刂Written in full as刀dāo
Sound part声符shēngfú
害
害hài割gē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

割 combines 害, which provides the sound, with 刂, the knife form of 刀, to show cutting.

Open 割 →

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 →

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