割裂 (gē liě) — to cut apart; to separate (often used abstractly, e.g., relationships, tradition, concepts)

Definition

Literary/formal verb for severing or tearing apart — used almost always in the abstract sense (relationships, tradition, theory from practice), never for physical cutting. Stronger and more absolute than plain 分离.

verb
to cut apartto separate (often used abstractly, e.g., relationships, tradition, concepts)

Examples

  • 割裂。
    Bú yào bǎ lì shǐ yǔ xiàn zài wán quán gē liě kāi lái.
    Don't completely separate history from the present.
  • 割裂。
    Zhè zhǒng guān diǎn gē liě le lǐ lùn yǔ shí jiàn de lián xì.
    This viewpoint severs the connection between theory and practice.
  • 割裂。
    Chuán tǒng wén huà yǔ xiàn dài jià zhí bù yīng bèi gē liě.
    Traditional culture and modern values should not be separated.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

割gēcut
裂lièsplit

“割” and “裂” both convey cutting and splitting, so together they mean to sever or separate.

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 →

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
衣衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
列
列liè裂liè
Same sound today

裂 combines 衣 (clothes) with 列 for the sound. The picture of 列 shows bones cut by a blade and lined up, and the whole writes the idea of cutting and tearing clothes.

Open 裂 →

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