破戒 (pò jiè) — to break a religious vow or precept; to break a self-imposed rule or taboo

Definition

Literally 'break a precept' — used both for violating a religious vow (a monk drinking) and, by extension, breaking any self-imposed personal rule (a diet, a pledge).

verb
to break a religious vow or preceptto break a self-imposed rule or taboo

Examples

  • ，破戒。
    Tā chū jiā duō nián, cóng wèi pò jiè.
    He has been a monk for many years and has never broken a precept.
  • 。
    Zhè wèi hé shàng yīn wèi hē jiǔ ér pò le jiè.
    This monk broke his vow because he drank alcohol.
  • ，破戒。
    Tā fā shì jiǎn féi, dàn zuó tiān yòu pò jiè chī le dàn gāo.
    He swore to lose weight, but yesterday he broke his rule and ate cake.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

破pòbreak
戒jièprecept

破 and 戒 combine to mean breaking a vow or religious rule.

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
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí破pò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

破 has 石 (stone) as its meaning part and 皮 as its sound part.

Open 破 →

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

  • 戈戈gēhalberd
  • 廾廾gǒnghands

戒 shows 廾 (hands) and 戈 (a halberd) together: hands holding up a weapon as a warning.

Open 戒 →

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