干裂 (gān liè) — to crack (from dryness), to be chapped

Definition

干裂 (gānliè) means to crack or split from dryness — a verb of state, typically used about lips, skin, soil, or wood. Similar to English 'to chap' or 'to crack open', caused by losing moisture.

verb
to crack (from dryness)to be chapped

Examples

  • 干裂。
    Dōng tiān wǒ de zuǐ chún róng yì gān liè.
    In winter my lips easily get chapped.
  • ，。
    Tǔ dì gān dé liè le, hěn jiǔ méi xià yǔ le.
    The ground cracked from dryness; it hasn't rained for a long time.
  • 干裂。
    Zhè zhǒng mù tou shài jiǔ le huì gān liè.
    This type of wood will crack if left in the sun too long.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

干gāndry out
裂liècrack

Dry out and crack combine to describe something becoming cracked from dryness.

Characters in this word

The simplified 干 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (饼干, 干杯) it is 乾; in others (干, 干活儿) (干扰) it is 幹 or 干.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 乾; 干 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
乙乙yǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
倝
倝gàn乾gān
Same sound today
Open 干 →

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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