扭断 (niǔ duàn) — to twist and break, to break by twisting

Definition

A compound verb: twist (扭) until something breaks (断). Often pairs with the 把 construction, as in 把铁丝扭断.

verb

to twist and breakto break by twisting

扭断。
Tā yòng qián zi bǎ tiě sī niǔ duàn le.
He twisted the wire until it broke with pliers.
，扭断。
Bié tài yòng lì, huì bǎ shǒu bǐng niǔ duàn.
Don't use too much force, or you'll break the handle.
，扭断。
Zhè zhǒng shéng zi hěn jiē shi, hěn nán niǔ duàn.
This kind of rope is very strong and hard to break by twisting.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

扭 means twist and 断 means break, so the word describes twisting until something breaks.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

丑

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

扭 has 手 (hand) beside 丑. The 手 part shows that the meaning involves a hand action, and 丑 gives the sound.

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.